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Sheriffs not enforcing Newsom's coronavirus curfew, won't 'make criminals' of law-abiding citizens
By Peter Aitken
Published November 20, 2020
A California sheriff says she will not enforce Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new coronavirus curfew, according to reports.
Newsom announced a number of measures on Thursday, including limited stay-at-home orders and overnight curfews for nonessential work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. every Saturday until Dec. 21.
Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims, however, said she wouldn't be penalizing residents who didn't follow the curfew, FOX 26 reported.
Sheriff Margaret Mims (Official photo)
"We've got a lot of things to do, including taking guns away from gang members, stopping narcotic trafficking, and saving children from internet predators," Mims said during a video briefing Thursday afternoon.
“We’re not gonna make criminals of normally law-abiding citizens.”
The department will not set up any checkpoints or pull over people to verify their reason for being out past curfew, Mims added.
Other law enforcement agencies plan to take a similarly hands-off approach to the curfew.
Merced County sheriff's deputies, Madera police, Visalia police and Kings County deputies all plan to continue business as usual rather than refocus on the curfew.
“We’re gonna continue to do our law enforcement responsibilities to protect the community. We’re enforcing it through education and try to encourage compliance,” Madera Police Chief Dino Lawson said.
"We're not going to enforce any of those orders,” Kings County Sheriff's Commander David Dodd said. "The Kings County Board of Supervisors has asked us to take an educational approach. We're going to refer people to the written guidelines to prevent the spread."
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The city of Fresno sent out a release Thursday asking residents to “voluntarily comply” with the curfew, according to KMJ Now.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fresno-sheriffs-not-enforcing-newsoms-curfew