A city enforcement team has given out four citations and hundreds of warnings to residents and businesses violating the city's stay at home orders, which are intended to curb the spread of COVID-19.
City spokesperson Erika R. Martinez said in an email that through Sunday, the enforcement team had issued four citations, made 2,577 contacts and issued 543 warnings (a "contact" is when someone from the city explains the orders to a resident or business). The enforcement team, comprised of staff from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, the Denver Police Department, Denver Parks and Recreation, Excise and License, and Community Engagement, are conducting "proactive patrols" of city parks and rec areas, businesses and neighborhoods.
The order, which was instituted on March 24, only allows you to leave your home for certain things like groceries, medicine and some outdoor activities. It will end on April 10 unless it's extended.
The team works seven days a week between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and issues warnings, which don't carry penalties, and citations only "when necessary" to get compliance, according to city spokesperson Nancy Kuhn. They can be written or verbal.
Citations amount to a court summons. Kuhn said it's up to a judge to decide the amount someone can be fined -- up to $999 -- or whether jail time, up to a year, is in order.
