Enforcing social distancing: Are people following guidelines limiting coronavirus spread?

A few days ago, Durham Mayor Steve Schewel received a photo of a party at a Durham residence. Concerned it might be a violation of social distancing guidelines and the Durham stay-at-home-order, Schewel drove himself to the backyard where the party was being held.

“I said, ‘I am the mayor of Durham ... You all are not social distancing, and you need to be social distancing,’ to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Schewel said.

By the time Schewel got there, the party had shrunk to fewer than 10 people. Schewel told the people at the party they were not exactly violating the order, but were violating the spirit of its intent. While he was at the house, an officer arrived and knocked on the front door, Schewel said. He said they complied in the end.

“They got it and apologized,” he said.

Law enforcement agencies across the state have received several complaints and questions about the stay-at-home order that went into effect last week in Wake, Durham and Orange counties and that went into effect in North Carolina Monday at 5 p.m.

The state order mandates people stay at home until April 29, with limits on people’s travels to essential businesses and activities. It also prohibits gatherings of 10 people or more, unless they are exempt as outlined in the order.

If a municipality has a stricter order, that takes precedent over the state one.

Violating the stay-at-home order can result in a Class 2 misdemeanor charge, which carries a fine of up to $1,000.

As of Tuesday, Triangle police departments have not issued any citations. They say they are trying to educate the public and are only asking people to disperse if they’re in large groups. If people are found violating the order repeatedly, they might issue citations.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department received roughly 1,200 complaints regarding the stay-at-home order last week, WCNC reported. Charlotte’s order took effect Thursday, March 26, at 8 a.m.

The Raleigh Police Department and the Durham Police Department did not respond to repeated requests from The News & Observer seeking numbers of complaints. Durham and Wake County Sheriff’s Offices reported no calls reporting order violations.

But other police departments around the Triangle reported some violations. Cary Police Chief Toni Dezomits said the agency received 48 calls reporting violations of the stay-at-home order between Friday and Monday.

Fuquay-Varina Police Chief Laura Fahnestock said Tuesday that her police department received 41 calls related to the coronavirus requiring police response.

“Many related to business-related questions as to how they are operating, or large groups congregating on private property,” Fahnestock said. “A majority of calls were related to restaurants serving customers inside their restaurants at the onset of the Wake County Order in Place.”

The Wake County stay-at-home order went into effect Friday at 5 p.m. before the state’s did.

Joe Binns, interim Garner police chief, said his police department had received five complaints as of Tuesday. In Morrisville, there were 11 calls, said town spokesman Will Glenn. In Wake Forest, there were 15, said town spokesman Bill Crabtree.

In Orange County, police departments in Carrborro and Chapel Hill reported “fewer than 10” calls complaining about social distancing violations. Hillsborough reported eight.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Alicia Stemper aid Tuesday morning that the Sheriff’s Office has submitted a formal request to capture and track calls about the stay-at-home order that are dispatched through Orange County 911, but did not have that information yet.

“Because we’re focusing much more on the education and asking people to disperse and to stay home and that sort of thing,” Chapel Hill spokesman Ran Northam said. If people continue to flout the order, the police will take other action if necessary, he said.

Fahnestock said police officers have issued warnings to some businesses in Fuquay-Varina, which have continued to operate due to confusion between state and county orders for them to shut down and the dates they took effect. She said she is communicating with the Wake County District Attorney about possible violations that require charges. People violating group gathering guidelines were given warnings.

Park rangers at William B. Umstead State Park can hand out second-degree trespassing charges to people who visit the park despite its closure, Katie Hall, a spokeswoman for State Parks and Recreation, told ABC11, The News & Observer’s news gathering partner.

Most law enforcement agency officials say the public is complying for the most part.

“I believe people are doing their best given the situation and doing what is asked of them,” Binns said. “Orders such as these rely heavily on the public’s cooperation and the public’s perseverance to make it through.”

Staff writers Tammy Grubb and Anna Johnson contributed to this story.