The Delaware State Police conducted multiple checkpoints in the past few days in New Castle and Sussex counties, stopping out-of-state drivers to enforce Governor John Carney’s order limiting travel to the First State.
The Delaware State Police started the four-day exercise in Claymont, where a number of out of state drivers apparently head to Total Wine discount store. State Police stopped 500 cars there on Thursday night.
They conducted their second checkpoint on Friday morning from 10 am to 12:30 pm at Naaman’s Rd. and Society Drive, in the area of Northtown Plaza. Those locations were chosen because State Police identified them as having a large volume of out of state travelers.
Over the weekend, State Police manned checkpoints around Coastal Highway where 1,284 were identified as being Delaware vehicles and 223 being from out of state.
While certain restrictions outlined in the declaration do have arrest consequences associated with them, the primary intent of the stops is educational. Police reported that conversations “were productive and non-confrontational.”
- Motorists passing through Delaware while traveling to other states.
- Those traveling from their home state to work for a an essential business in Delaware.
- Those caring for a family member in Delaware.
- People coming into the state for health care reasons (e.g. visiting a pharmacy, going to a veterinarian, meeting with a physician).
Delaware State Police Troop 1 Commander, Captain John Laird, who oversaw the Claymont operation, advised that the interactions that his Troopers had with both the Delawareans who passed through the check-point, as well as the out of state drivers who were stopped, were productive and non-confrontational.
Police official say that directed patrols throughout the state will continue, with the goal of achieving voluntary compliance with the order through education and awareness.
