Normal Mayor Chris Koos has signed an executive order giving police a tool to enforce social distancing and violations of Gov. JB Pritzker’s order to avoid large gatherings of people during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have had some issues with partying and some activities in the park where these weren’t being taken seriously,” said Koos.
Police can now write an ordinance violation ticket targeting people at gatherings of more than 10 individuals who are not abiding by healthy distance limits set by the governor. Koos said officers previously have relied on persuasion. If that failed, they had only the town's noise violation ordinance to fall back on to disperse gatherings, he said.
A first offense would carry a $100 fine, police said.
Until now, it has been the practice of officers to convince people of the right thing to do, and they have been able to do that in most instances, said Koos. “In case they are not, we feel this is an appropriate action.”
Koos said most people are abiding by the shelter-in-place order or, if they are gathering, are doing so with significant spacing between people in a creative manner, said Koos, noting a good example is one neighborhood that had a party where everybody gathered at the edge of a cul-de-sac and spaced themselves out around the curve.
Koos said better weather on Thursday and Friday probably influenced recent violations.
“There have been some house parties where there have been a lot of people. Some of the larger apartment complexes have had some issues with too many people and no social distancing, also some gatherings in the parks, pickup basketball games and things like that,” said Koos. “This is a health issue designed to protect people and tamp down the spread of this virus.”
Before issuing the new order, Koos said he contacted Illinois State University President Larry Dietz. The mayor said he does not know how many students are still living in off-campus housing instead of returning to their home communities, but added students have not been the sole offenders. There also have been large gatherings at multi-unit complexes that do not have a student population, he said.
Koos said he consulted with all but one member of the town council individually by phone before proceeding with the order and all supported the move. He said he could not reach one council member.
The mayoral order extends through the end of April, in line with Pritzker's directive. Koos said he does not feel the order needs to be on the books forever, but he may extend it if wider social distancing is still recommended at the end of the month.
Koos said the town also has received complaints about some businesses where non-observance of social distance guidelines has been an issue, though he declined to single out any by name.
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