Thanksgiving dinner could look a little different this year if people obey Gov. Kate Brown’s restrictions on social gatherings – the limit is six people from two separate households, indoors or outside.
Brown said in a interview with KGW that people should handle any violations they see in the same way they would if there was a party down the street. “What do neighbors do? They call law enforcement because it’s too noisy. This is just like that. It’s like a violation of a noise ordinance.”
Law enforcement agencies across the state, many of them overburdened and understaffed, have taken various stances regarding the enforcement of Brown’s restrictions, some outright declining to get involved and others suggesting they’ll warn and educate violators who are reported.
The orders expire Dec. 2 and limit bars and restaurants to takeout dining, close gyms, limit capacity at grocery stores and pharmacies, and restrict churches and faith groups to gatherings no larger than 25 people.
Violating the governor’s orders amounts to a misdemeanor and is punishable by arrest and a fine. Failure to comply could reportedly result in a fine up to $1,250 and 30 days in jail – the same penalties imposed under March’s stay-home order. It’s not clear if any penalties were ever applied during that time.
Captain Joel Goodwin of the Corvallis Police Department said the agency evaluates all calls for service individually based on the totality of the circumstances. When pressed for specifics on enforcing the social gathering restrictions, Goodwin repeated the response. He said according to records staff and dispatch, there have been no reports of people violating the restrictions.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office also hasn’t had any reports of people violating the governor’s orders, according to Capt. Don Rogers. He said BCSO will handle any complaints in the manner recommended in the Oregon State Sheriffs Association, Oregon State Police, and Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police joint press release from Nov. 17.
“The Benton County Sheriff’s Office will not proactively search for violations of the governor’s executive order. We will first educate persons involved in any reported violations,” Rogers said in an email. “We will encourage complainants to report businesses, restaurants, and bars to OSHA, OHA, and OLCC respectively.”
Rogers said enforcement by a citation would be at the discretion of the responding deputy and reserved for the “most egregious incidents.” The decision to pursue any criminal charges against any alleged offenders falls on the Benton County District Attorney’s Office.
In neighboring Linn County, a statement issued by Sheriff Jim Yon and county District Attorney Doug Merteeny said The Linn County Sheriff’s Office decided in April that it would not do any criminal enforcement on COVID-19 mandates.
“Our role in the community is not to count how many people are at a residence or how an individual business conducts its affairs. We definitely do not interfere with religious organizations,” the statement said. “We are going to continue to educate citizens, as needed, and that is where we will stop. We trust citizens to assess risk and take precautions as appropriate given their individual circumstances.”
Lebanon Mayor Paul Aziz posted on Facebook that Brown has acted beyond her authority, and that her actions “have been devastating to our community financially and on our citizens’ mental health.” He wrote that local police would respond to complaints, but just as before, there will be no citations or arrests, just education on the rules.
“I have talked with our City Manager, City Attorney and our Chief of Police and the City of Lebanon will not be citing or arresting anyone for violation of the Governor’s orders,” Aziz wrote. “Those rules or orders should be enforced by the governor’s agency, the Oregon State Police, OSHA and other agencies.”
“We need to be treated like adults, and allowed to make decisions to protect ourselves, family and neighbors,” Aziz wrote. “Being safe, social distancing and wearing a mask are all important practices to try and keep this pandemic in check.”
A request for comment from the governor’s office was not answered before this report was published.
By Cody Mann
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