OR Gov: Snitch On Your Neighbors For Violating Thanksgiving COVID Orders

Evita Duffy reporting for The Federalist

This Thanksgiving, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is encouraging citizens to call the police on their neighbors who violate her latest executive order, which includes a six-person limit from two households maximum on in-home gatherings. 

“Look, this is no different than what happens if there’s a party down the street and it’s keeping everyone awake. What do neighbors do? They call law enforcement because it’s too noisy,” the Democratic governor explained. “This is just like that. It’s like a violation of a noise ordinance.” 

Anonymous reporting systems have been implemented across U.S. county health departments and on college campuses where students are encouraged to turn in fellow classmates who violate university COVID rules. 

In April, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged his constituents to monitor, photograph and report each other for violating social distancing guidelines. The tip line was quickly flooded with off-color texts including photos of middle fingers and “dick pics” — so many that the city had to temporarily shut down the service.

When statewide shelter-in-place orders were handed down this spring, police departments in states like Delaware and New Jersey used drone surveillance to enforce social distancing in both public and private spaces.

Oregon’s latest health restrictions went into effect last Wednesday, and include limits on social gatherings (indoor or outdoor) to no more than six people from two households, limiting worship services to 25 people, and a maximum of 75 percent capacity for grocery and retail stores. It also requires all businesses to mandate that employees work from home when possible, closes outdoor and indoor recreational facilities, including gyms, and limits restaurants and bars to take-out service only.

People who violate Brown’s orders this Thanksgiving could face misdemeanor penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines of up to $1,250, or both.

Oregonians who want to have a Thanksgiving celebration with their loved ones this year will have to sneak guests in through the back door, close the curtains and blinds, and hide the incriminating 25-pound turkey.