Business Closure, Stay at Home Order, Worker Safety Measures, and Liquor Control Enforcement 

On March 19, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations. Statewide enforcement of the order began on March 23. On April 1, 2020, Governor Wolf issued a statewide Stay at Home order. Under the order, all individuals must stay home except for certain essential activities and work to provide life sustaining business and government services. On April 19, 2020, Governor Wolf and Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order directing protections for critical workers who are employed at businesses that are authorized to maintain in-person operations during the COVID-19 disaster. 

All three orders can be enforced by local law enforcement as well as state police. While voluntary compliance is preferred, law enforcement maintains discretion to warn or cite individuals who fail to abide by the orders, and each decision is based on the unique circumstances of an encounter. Wolf administration guidance to law enforcement is available here.

State police enforcement totals are updated regularly. They do not include enforcement actions taken my municipal law enforcement agencies. Links to public information release reports related to citations are included when available, no additional information will be provided on warnings.

A map of counties covered by each troop is available in the Troop Directory.

Citation Details:

Troop M: May 25, 2020

Troop H: May 13, 2020

Troop L: April 23, 2020 (Filed on 4/24)

The current list of businesses classified as life-sustaining, resources for affected businesses, and information businesses to request a waiver/exemption are available from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

Citation Details:

Troop A: April 11, 2020 (Filed on 4/13)

Troop F: April 4, 2020 , May 3, 2020

Troop J: March 29, 2020 (Filed on 4/2)

Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement

On June 18, 2020, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) issued guidance to licensed liquor establishments permitted to resume on-premises service of alcohol in counties in the yellow and green phases of reopening. The guidance incorporated and reinforced the governor's mandates to businesses in the restaurant and food service industry.

A licensee that fails to comply with requirements mandating the wearing of masks, providing at least six feet between parties at tables, and ensuring that maximum occupancy limits are observed risks administrative citation by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. Administrative citations, which are civil in nature, may be assessed for each violation. Penalties include a fine of up to $1,000 and possible suspension and/or revocation of the liquor license. A notice of violation precedes an administrative citation, and provides the licensee ample time to prepare a defense or make the necessary remedy. Because the investigation is ongoing, names of establishments issued a notice of violation will not be released at this time.