[NFB_of_Georgia] Fwd: NFB GWINNETT CHAPTER FW: Violate stay-at-home order in Gwinnett County? You could pay $1k -- or go to jail

[Dorothy Griffin]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jo Ann Collins-Johnson <joann369 at bellsouth.net>
Date: Tue, Mar 31, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Subject: NFB GWINNETT CHAPTER FW: Violate stay-at-home order in Gwinnett
County? You could pay $1k -- or go to jail
To: <joann369 at bellsouth.net>


FYI!



The Gwinnett County Solicitor announced Tuesday that people who violate the
county's stay-at- home order could be fined -- or even sent to jail.

Gwinnett County Solicitor Brian Whiteside said that people caught violating
the order could be charged $1,000 or sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Gwinnett's stay-at-home order has a long list of exceptions so people can
go to work, get food and do most essential chores.

Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Tony Thomas was in Gwinnett County,
where the reaction to Whiteside’s statement has been strong and swift.

Some people are all for it, saying everything needs to be done to keep
people at home as much as possible. Others are saying the move is
unconstitutional and beyond crazy.

Thomas talked to Whiteside about his policy to allow police officers to
ticket people or take them to jail.

Whiteside said so far, he hasn’t had to prosecute anyone, but he’s looking
at the small few he believes are flaunting the order.

"People were out in the Loganville Park in Gwinnett having organized games
for their children," Whitehead said. "These were parents."

Whiteside told Thomas his office took pictures of what they say were nail
salons still crowded with people.

"We would not have issued this notice if we thought that that .5% were
complying," Whitehead said. "We need 100% to save the lives.

Whitehead said if people question his decision, they should remember that
they elected him to protect people.

Princess Washington and Sidney Wells called their walk along Pleasant Hill
Road Tuesday "ghostly."

Neither Washington nor Wells is a fan of Whitehead's plans.

"I don't think it's right to charge people at all," Washington said.
"People got kids, they want to go out. They don't want to just be cooped up
in the house all day."

"I avoid being out as much as possible, but I feel people should be able to
come out as they please," Washington said.



Thomas contacted Gwinnett Police about their policy. A spokesperson said
they are simply trying to educate people, but once notified, “we are giving
them the opportunity to return home.”




-- 
Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.