Curfew Explained

It's been four days since governor Tate Reeves issued a state-wide shelter-in-place order.

Good evening - it's been four days since governor tate reeves issued a state-wide shelter-in-place order.

Since then, counties all across north mississippi have been following the governor's lead by issuing their own curfews.

Our cash matlock joins us live from oktibbeha county with more on why counties are making these moves, and how law enforcement plan to enforce the orders.

Joey, i spoke to a few different officers from different counties... and they all said the same thing.

If you have a legitimate reason to be out past the curfew, you have nothing to worry about.

Officers say determining essential travel from non-essential travel... just takes a little common sense.

Winston county has issued a mandatory curfew from 9 pm to 6 am.

Sheriff jason pugh says during this time... officers will be looking for very specific behavior.

"what we won't tolerate is people that are out stalking our businesses that are already suffering because they're not open.

We're watching our local businesses, we're watching our local residences.

The intention is to protect our citizens."

However, pugh says officers will ánotá be stopping every car that comes along.

"if you have to be at work, if you have things you have to do, we are making those acceptions for legitimate reasons."

óóóóó standup: on monday, the oktibbeha county board of supervisors met here to enact a curfew set to take place over the next 30 days with violators facing up to $1000 in fines an up to 30 days in jail.

óóóóó "when you say curfew... people understand that."

Oktibbeha county sheriff steve gladney says when one county goes under a curfew, it can cause trouble for neighboring counties who aren't under a curfew.

"so, everybody thought it was ok to come to oktibbeha county, and we broke up large gatherings all weekend with people partying and that type thing."

Gladney says his officers are only targeting large gatherings of people and suspicious activity.

"if you're coming through a neighborhood at 2 a.m.

Driving slow, you're probably going to get stopped... you may have a good reason... you may not have a good reason."

With the shelter- place-order, there really isn't much reason to be out anyway.

"there really are not a whole lot of legitimate things that somebody would want to be out doing under this shelter in place order after 9 o'clock."

"the sooner people will start going by the guidelines, the sooner we'll get back to normalcy."

Noxubee county is also issuing a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am.

Violators could face up to $500 in fines.

Reporting in oktibbeha county, cash matlock, wcbi