By Alexandra Salmieri | asalmieri@siadvance.com
STATEN ISLAND N.Y. -- During the past couple of days the city began rolling out its random checkpoint operation in an effort to enforce a mandatory two-week quarantine for travelers from 35 high-infection states -- a program the de Blasio administration plans to “ramp up” in the coming days.

The checkpoints will be located near New York City’s bridges and tunnels.

Quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge
Sheriff's Department officers pull a car over on Route 440 at a quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge on August 7, 2020. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

So far the Sheriff’s office set up checkpoints at the Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing on Staten Island.

The notice published by the Mayor’s offices states that “Any individual who has spent more than 24 hours in any state on New York’s Restricted State List in the last 14 days,” must register and quarantine, including New York residents and people “just passing through.”

The checkpoint stops should only last a couple of minutes.

If stopped by the Sheriff’s office, individuals may be asked about their recent travels out of the state, and in some cases, they will ask to individuals to fill out the form at the checkpoint. They are also given checkpoint FAQ document and a “Fight COVID NYC!” flyer.

The health form can also be completed online one day before your arrival in New York City.

The Mayor's office suggest taking a screenshot of the confirmation page once you have completed the form.

Flyer handed out at checkpoints.
Along with the health forms, individuals stopped at checkpoints are given a flyer that reads “Fight COVID NYC”. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

Those who refuse to fill out the form will be fined $2,000 and travelers caught violating the two-week quarantine could get hit with a $10,000 fine.

Mayor Bill De Blasio indicated the checkpoints could last into the foreseeable future, saying they could continue “as long we think makes sense, and as extensively as we think makes sense.”

While the city has reduced COVID-19 transmission and positive test rates the notice states “we cannot afford to let our guard down now.”

Quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge
Sheriffs patrol Route 440 at a quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge on August 7, 2020. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

“The first stops were about 200 vehicles, just as a test run, that number’s going to grow greatly this weekend,” de Blasio told reporters during a press conference Friday.

See the full list of high infection states here.

Quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge
Sheriffs stop car at quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge on August 7, 2020. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

Quarantine checkpoint near the Bayonne Bridge
An NYC sheriff keeps an eye out at a quarantine checkpoint set up near the Bayonne Bridge on August 7, 2020. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

https://www.silive.com/coronav...les-are-stopped.html

Simple response - F NY and F de blowsio.

I can think of no viable reason I have to ever go back to NY.

Andrew

quote:

Originally posted by El Cid 92:
Simple response - F NY and F de blowsio.

I can think of no viable reason I have to ever go back to NY.

Andrew

Exactly. Upstate maybe, on my way to someplace else, but The City? Norfolk and Way.

Isn't this a violation of the first amendment? Hard to "assemble freely" under those restrictions. And yes, fuck Deblasio.