Illinois business owners could face fine, jail time for reopening in defiance of coronavirus restrictions
By Justin Wise - 05/18/20 08:52 AM EDT
Business owners in Illinois could now face a Class A misdemeanor charge for opening their establishments in defiance of the state's stay-at-home order.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Friday filed an emergency rule that would penalize owners of restaurants, bars, gyms, barbershops and other businesses for reopening before coronavirus restrictions are lifted, according to The New York Times.
In Illinois, a Class A misdemeanor charge can carry a fine of up to $2,500 and a maximum jail sentence of one year.
The emergency rule is an “additional enforcement tool for businesses that refuse to comply with the most critical aspects of the stay-at-home order," Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokeswoman for the governor, told the Times.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/498263-illinois-business-owners-could-face-fine-jail-time-for-reopening-in