Santa Cruz Police Dept cracking down on social distancing

(KION) Many people are not following social distancing guidelines. Six feet is required when out and about. The Santa Cruz Police Dept is increasing their patrol cars, and cracking down to make sure social distancing practices are followed.

Santa cruz almost looks like a ghost town these days. The Santa Cruz Police Dept. has closed many beach parking lots across the city, and all parking spaces along West Cliff drive to create social distancing. Chief Mills says, “We have to flatten the curve as a community.”

Locals like Janice, who walk along West Cliff daily say, “I’ve lived here most of my life… the differences from packed on weekends where traffic is backed up all the way here. Now there is like nothing.”

Just because there are less people on the streets… doesn’t mean people aren’t breaking social distancing rules. Mills says, “They’re a few… who think this doesn’t apply to them.”

The Santa Cruz Police Dept has been trained about this virus, are increasing patrol cars, and understand what the rules are with social distancing. “We are doing three things. One, we are educating people to make sure they know what the rules are. We are engaging with them to get a commitment that they are going to abide by.If that doesn’t work we are certainly going to do enforcement” Mills says.

Mills says people are still encouraged to get outside, but don’t forget to social distance.