Complaints Will Drive Enforcement Of New State Curfew: CMPD

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's new modified stay-at-home order goes into effect across the state Friday, however police in Charlotte say they won't be proactively enforcing it.

In the wake of the surging number of new coronavirus cases throughout the state, Cooper announced Tuesday that the state would be reverting to a "modified stay-at-home" order Friday, Dec. 11, which orders residents to stay in their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and takes aim at social gatherings going into the holiday season.

"It means just what it says: people are to stay at home between those hours," Cooper said.

The order will be in effect until Jan. 8, 2021.

SEE ALSO: Gov. Cooper Issues New Modified Stay-At-Home for North Carolina

"We won't be using this order as a sole means for stopping traffic or to set up checkpoints," CMPD Deputy Chief Jeff Estes said Wednesday during a news conference. Estes said that
more than 25 businesses in the Charlotte metro have been cited for other coronavirus orders.

CMPD will rely on officer discretion, he said.

In a message via Twitter, the police department said it intended to maintain its present approach to enforcement in order to maintain consistency and would be managing complaints on a case-by-case basis.

"The CMPD will not be: Conducting proactive curfew checkpoints. Stopping people arbitrarily to ask them their intended destination or reason for being outside of the home," CMPD said.

Under the new modified stay-at-home order:

• Businesses, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and most retail stores will be required to close by 10 p.m.
• Retail stores exempt from the 10 p.m. closures include those that sell groceries, medication, health care supplies and fuel.
• All onsite alcohol sales must end by 9 p.m.
• Capacity limitations on certain businesses, as well as limits of no more than 10 gathered indoors and 50 gathered outdoors will be extended through Jan. 8, 2021.
• Workers are recommended to work from home whenever possible.
• Face coverings continue to be required in all public indoor settings

More information about the order may be found here.

SEE ALSO:

• Most In NC Will Seek Coronavirus Vaccine: Survey Results
• Coronavirus Spread In Mecklenburg: See Your Risk Of Exposure
• Here's The Estimated COVID-19 Vaccine Wait Time In Mecklenburg