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posted on 5/2/20

At the beginning of February, an Illinois man finally realized his dream of opening a family restaurant. As a first-generation immigrant, he was excited to open a Greek restaurant and allow his customers to enjoy his family recipes as well as Greek culture.

He was distraught to learn that he needed to shut down his restaurant. The funding from the stimulus package will soon run out and he will face the choice of closing his restaurant for good or disobeying the law by opening up his restaurant for customers.

Governor Pritzker Has Extended the Stay-at-Home

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently extended the state-wide stay-at-home order until May 30th. Human rights groups as well as Chief Deputy Director of the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, David J. Robinson, have criticized the order. It is entirely possible that a court would strike down the order because it violates the United States Constitution and the Illinois Constitution.

Will Illinois Law Enforcement Arrest Citizens for Violations?

The governor stated that they expect the stay-at-home order to be self-enforced. However, the order gives law enforcement the authority to take further action when people refuse to comply with the order. Illinois law enforcement agencies have stated that they will enforce the order through arrests and fines.

At the press conference, someone asked whether law enforcement will charge people who do not comply with a crime. The Governor responded that if someone refuses to comply repeatedly, law enforcement will charge the individual with reckless conduct and arrest them.

Cities are Planning to Issue Civil Penalties on Top of Criminal Penalties for Violations

During the press conference, Governor Pritzker stated that he would call the police if his neighbors were hosting a gathering that is too large. The mayor of Normal has stated that law enforcement will be out enforcing the ban of gatherings over 10 or more. The cities of Quincy, Rockford, Alton, and others have already begun charging those who violate the stay-at-home order. The mayor of Springfield issued an executive order that gives law enforcement the ability to issue fines of up to $500 to people who gather in groups over 10 or who do not observe the six-foot social distancing order.

Fighting Charges Involving Illinois’ Stay-at-Home Order

Tensions are running higher than ever as a result of the coronavirus stay-at-home order. People with mental health challenges are suffering greatly, and suicide rates have increased. As business owners watch their life savings and life’s work plummet, they are devastated. Responsible, law-abiding people will violate the stay-at-home order out of desperation or a desire to return to a sense of normalcy.

Contact Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Today

If you are facing charges for violating the stay-at-home lawyer, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Contact the experienced Cook County criminal defense lawyers at Glasgow & Olsson today to schedule your initial consultation.