Roving roadblocks to enhance rule enforcement

Citations will be issued for those not following the stay-at-home order

WAILUKU -- Police will be setting up roving roadblocks starting Saturday to check vehicles for violations of public health emergency rules, Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu said Thursday.

All vehicles will be stopped at the roadblocks and drivers will be asked for their driver's license, registration and proof of insurance, as well as reason for travel, Faaumu said.

"Any violators will be cited," he said during Mayor Michael Victorino's daily update on COVID-19.

Faaumu said drivers won't be ticketed for expired driver's licenses and safety checks if they're within the COVID-19 grace period.

The roving checkpoints are being implemented as the number of citations issued in Maui County for violating public health emergency rules rose to 213 since March 28, with 17 people cited Thursday, according to police.

Police have arrested eight people for violating the stay-at-home orders issued last month by Gov. David Ige and Mayor Victorino in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Faaumu said police began using its drone patrol Thursday to check parks and beaches and to make public announcements to remind people that county beach parks are closed. "We will continue using the drone program to help the ground crew as they enforce social distancing and the mayor's emergency rules," Faaumu said.

He said the drones will be deployed over oceanfront and open areas but not private property. "It is not for surveillance purposes," Faaumu said.

Police said many public health emergency violations are occurring at beaches, which are open only for essential activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, walking and jogging. Sedentary activities such as sunbathing, sleeping, reading and sunset watching aren't allowed at beaches.

Faaumu said the progressive enforcement started March 18 when police worked "to encourage and compel compliance" with the emergency rules.

Officers began by educating the public before progressing to warnings and reprimands, followed by citations.

The citations issued Thursday included 10 in the Wailuku district, four on Molokai and three in the Kihei district.

Those cited are given a date to appear in court.

Violating a public health emergency rule is a misdemeanor offense carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.

In Wailuku District Court on Thursday, Armando Cardona, 25, of Kahului asked to be released on supervision following his arrest Monday for disorderly conduct and violating public health emergency rules.

According to an affidavit filed in court to support the charge, Cardona was screaming obscenities and blowing cigarette smoke into the faces of a man and woman while following them to their vehicle parked fronting Mana Foods on Baldwin Avenue in Paia shortly after 11 a.m. The couple, who didn't know Cardona, were "alarmed by his behavior, which is compounded with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," according to the affidavit.

The man placed Cardona under citizen's arrest before he was taken into custody by police and transported to the Wailuku Police Station.

Cardona was ordered to stay away from the couple and from Mana Foods.

Judge Blaine Kobayashi denied Cardona's request to be released. In addition to the violation case, Cardona has pending felony matters and a drug-related case, Kobayashi said.

Cardona's bail is set at $1,000.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.