Click here for updates on this story
Chicago, IL (WBBM) — At this moment, many suburban bars and restaurants are defying Gov. JB Pritzker’s tighter COVID-19 restrictions, but who’s enforcing the rule of no indoor dining, and is facing potential punishment worth it?
CBS 2’s Steven Graves is looking at the legal side of the issue.
A closed, empty space is what the owner of Pete Mitchell’s Bar and Grill in Frankfort is determined to avoid, despite Pritzker’s order that bars and restaurants in Will, DuPage, Kane, and Kankakee counties halt indoor service due to rising virus counts.
“I’m definitely going to be staying open, and I’m defying his orders,” Mike Comise said.
But last night, the first evening defying the no indoor seating rule wasn’t the same.
“It was slow, it was slow, but that’s the thing we should do is leave it to the people. If the people want to come out, let them come out,” Comise said.
The new restrictions in Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties) and Region 8 (DuPage and Kane counties) were triggered when those regions’ average positivity rates surpassed 8% for three days in a row.
But a growing list of businesses are defying the governor’s orders, even though Pritzker has warned Illinois State Police could issue fines. The governor has even threatened to revoke gambling or liquor licenses from businesses that fail to comply with the new restrictions.
“That’s fine, but I will fight it in the courts,” Comise said.
CBS 2 legal analyst Irv Miller said this to businesses owners looking at the governor’s rule:
“You should take it as a potential death blow either way,” he said.
Miller said the obvious effect of stopping business could lead to permanent closure, but it could be the same after facing fines and a legal fight that also takes time.
“The restaurants will have the ability to contest it in court, but that’s down the road. That’s not going to help things out right away for either party,” Miller said.
An example? He points to a case involving State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), who challenged the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions months ago.
“That case a couple days ago in Sangamon County, in Springfield, just got continued for hearing until December 7th. So that tells you that the courts are not exactly in a rush to hear these cases,” he said.
Comise said it’s worth the risk if it means supporting himself and employees, while taking safety measures. Does he think the governor’s bark is bigger than his bite?
“I guess we’re going to find that out,” he said.
Pritzker said the new restrictions will stay in place until regions get their positivity rates to 6.5% or lower for at least three days in a row.
CBS 2 asked his office if any fines have been handed out yet, but we have yet to hear back.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.