Updated on March 25, 2020
Coronavirus Public Health Rules in St. Charles County
On Friday March 20, St. Charles County Council signed a bill that makes it a crime to violate any Public Health Emergency Order.
If you live in St. Charles County, and you violate any order issued by the County Executive or the Director of Public Health, you could face up to ONE YEAR in the county jail or up to a $1,000 fine. That is the same range of punishment for a class A misdemeanor, which is the most serious of misdemeanors.
How does this affect St. Charles County Residents?
County Executive Steve Ehlmann has ordered “recreational, social and entertainment gatherings will be limited to 10 or less.” So if you’re having a big party at your house, and the Police come, you will be ticketed. Please be careful and heed this advice. This rule does not apply to essential businesses, and healthcare facilities. But if restaurants are violating Public Health Orders their owners could face criminal tickets and fines.
On Monday, March 23, St. Charles County enacted a stay-at-home order, which orders all residents to stay at home unless they are going to the grocery store, have an emergency, or work at an essential business. However, St. Charles has not defined what is an essential business.
“Businesses know that for the long-term good, we need to ‘flatten the curve’ and they will determine on their own that they need to close – either because people don’t see them as essential, or for the protection of their employees and customers,” wrote St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann.
WHAT ABOUT ST. LOUIS CITY AND COUNTY?
St. Louis County and City both have stay-at-home orders that are in effect, and have carefully defined what is an essential business, and what businesses should close.
Currently St. Louis City and County have not passed any ordinance/law to make it a criminal offense to violate their orders. However, they do give the Prosecuting Attorney power over enforcing parts of it, along with given the offender the right to be heard before the county council. It is possible in the future you could face criminal charges for not obeying a stay at home order but as of today, there are no criminal consequences in St. Louis City or County.
You can view the St. Louis County stay-at-home order click here.
Disclaimer: The choice of an attorney is important and should not be solely based upon advertisements. Each DWI case is different and you should consult with an attorney on specific legal issues.
Don’t violate any of the health orders issued in Missouri. They’re for your safety and health.
Brendan Block
Attorney at Law
Brendan practices law in St. Louis, Missouri and surrounding areas. He handles all criminal cases, but especially DWI, shoplifting, theft and possession cases. He is a former prosecutor who now defends his clients with the utmost care and attention.
Theres no way I could have afforded the charges or some big law firm. Brendan explained to me what he was doing to win and how he was taking care of it. And he kept me out of jail and saved me tons of money! So thankful for his help!!!"
