Quincy Reporter

The Quincy Police Department says curbside pickup isn’t for every business and they’ll issue citations to stop nonessential businesses that aren't following the state mandate.

Restaurants and bars in the Tri-State can prepare food for curbside pickup and delivery under Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order. Many are using to go and delivery to try to stay in business while most of the state is under stay-at-home orders.

The police department continues to receive complaints about nonessential businesses selling their goods and allowing customers to pick up online orders at their businesses.

"Non-essential businesses cannot be open, and they cannot do curbside pick-up," Deputy Chief Shannon Pilkington told KHQA.

Want something from a local sporting goods store, a clothing store or hardware? Local residents’ only option would be to buy from them online – if they have an e-commerce site set up – and have their orders shipped to them.

Owners of nonessential businesses can go to their stores to remodel, paint, take inventory and perform maintenance. But they can’t sell to customers from their storefronts.

The liquor store next door and the grocery store can stay open and customers can shop there. But nonessential stores can’t.

Police officers issued several cease and desist letters, but had not issued citations. A new city ordinance allows them to enforce COVID-19 guidelines.

Pilkington told KHQA that an ordinance violation is not a misdemeanor charge and won’t go on a person’s record if a citation is written. The fine is lower also. Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley told the Herald-Whig fines of $500 can be imposed.

The City of Quincy enacted the ordinance on April 6 to allow QPD to officially enforce COVID-19 guidelines. That ordinance allows police to write citations for organizers of large gatherings or people who refuse to follow police orders to leave also.

The ordinance took effect April 16.

Pilkington told KHQA the department encourages voluntary compliance. They also ask city residents who see a business violating the ordinance to call them and report it.