Fresno police will refuse to enforce proposed law restricting social gatherings

This statement comes just ahead of a proposed Fresno City Council meeting to be held on Tuesday at 4 pm, where it is expected that there will be a vote on a new law prohibiting gatherings of 15 or more people.

The Chief of Police's statement said that in light of the upcoming Fresno City Council Meeting, called by Council President Miguel Arias, he wanted to clarify his position and that of the police department with regard to enforcement of the proposed order.

The Special Meeting would be "for the introduction and adoption of an emergency amendment to Section 2-514 of the Fresno Municipal Code to prohibit residential gatherings of 15 or more people."

But Hall does not plan to use his police force to enforce the order.

"As the Chief of Police for the City of Fresno, I want this community to know that should this emergency amendment be approved by five City Council votes, the Fresno Police Department will NOT be enforcing this law," he said.

"The Fresno Police Department will NOT be criminalizing the people's rights to gather in their homes. Instead, the Fresno Police Department will continue to focus our efforts on the violent crime that is plaguing this community."

Hall wrote that "I would like to remind everyone to be safe this holiday season and to use good judgment and common sense to ensure the safety of your families and our community."

A California-wide stay-at-home order has already been enacted this weekend and will continue until at least January 4.

According to local outlet ABC30, the proposed new Fresno law would make it a fineable offence for anybody to have a gathering of over 15 people, and the fine would be issued to the owner of the property where the offence took place.

A first offence would net the owner a $1,000 fine, a second offence $5,000 and subsequent offences would generate a fine of $10,000. But if the City Council passes the law, they will have a tough time forcing residents to follow it.