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Florida To Add Road Checkpoints As Louisiana Added To Travel Self-Isolation Requirements
March 27, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday afternoon there will be highway checkpoints in the Panhandle as he adds Louisiana residents to the state’s quarantine requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In a letter Thursday to DeSantis, Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley requested that Louisiana be added to the required 14-day self-quarantine the governor has imposed upon travelers from the New York area. On Monday, the governor ordered people traveling by air to Florida from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to self-isolate for 14 days.
“My request is that you acknowledge travel restrictions for visitors coming into Northwest Florida, particularly those coming from Louisiana. Many of these travelers may be bringing the virus with them but are not yet symptomatic,” Gilley wrote. “I believe that Escambia County could be protected if you issue a statement specifically requiring a quarantine of at least 14 days for any visitor coming from Louisiana.”
“There’s a fear that as New Orleans becomes more of a hotspot that you could have an influx of people into the Florida Panhandle from Louisiana,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said counties and the Florida Highway Patrol will be able to enforce the requirements at checkpoints on the “main thoroughfares” into Florida, including I-10. He suggested vehicles with Louisiana license plates would be flagged, stopped at the checkpoints, and informed of the 14-day self-isolation requirement.
“All we’re trying to do is keep our residents here safe. If you’re coming from one of the epicenters, we probably think that you should follow the directions of your state and local officials, and if they’re telling you to shelter in place, then do that, but don’t come here because we’re trying to protect our folks,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also suspended new vacation rentals for 14 days.
As of Friday afternoon, Louisiana had 2,746 positive cases and 119 deaths due to coronavirus. Florida had 2,900 cases with 34 deaths. Louisiana is under a shelter-in-place order, while Florida is not.
Comments
47 Responses to “Florida To Add Road Checkpoints As Louisiana Added To Travel Self-Isolation Requirements”
I live in Houston can I drive Thur Louisiana to pick up my child and lady in Pensacola and bring them back.?
I am from North Louisiana, Union Parish, and have been literally quarantined in my home since Mid-March. I have a younger sister who lives in Indian Lake Estates, Fl, and has just been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a malignant cancer. She is single with absolutely no family whatsoever in FL. She is 66 years old and very scared and emotional. I am a retired registered nurse and attempting to guide her through the medical maze. I very much need to be with her. May I enter Florida on a medical necessity?
I live in Louisiana, I have my stuff in storage in Orlando that i could lose within the next two weeks . I want to just come pick up my possessions by my truck that are worth about five thousand dollars or more. Will i be able to just pass through to go get my possessions without being put into quarantine or face 60 days in jail?
San Tan Valley Arizona
I’m actually moving from San Tan Valley to Pensacola and my son is driving a uhaul. Is there going to be an issue with coming through Lousiana just to get to Florida? It would just be a drive through.
Thank you
I live in Florida but my family live in Louisiana. I’m not allowed to drive to Louisiana?
I cannot believe all the people blaming the governor if anybody was paying attention there were daily briefings on hotspots how this virus worked. . The CDC was putting out information they are medical experts. Heavily populated places like New York and Miami were controlled early. Sending 10000 spring breakers back with not the answer to the problem so criticizing the governor is like playing Monday morning quarterback get over it. The people with underlying conditions are the ones at risk this is not a death sentence for most people. if you have to go across state lines God bless law enforcement for being out there checking people and trying to help the situation. Our governor is doing an awesome job not adding to this hysteria and doing things thoughtful manner.
if I work in the oil field and have a job in tampa Florida and I’m coming from Texas and have to go through Louisiana on 10 in a personal truck With texas plates will I have to self quarantine for 14 days if I have a mother job in texas in the following 3 days
No u wont have problems I came from new orleans straight to Texas I was not pulled over I made safe and sound. Leaving out was the same traffic flowing as usually through texas
I want to move from Panama City beach back to Texas are we able To go threw Louisiana to get there we have 1 Texas plate and the rest are Florida
My home is in Orlando, I am driving all the way from California back to home
in the Florida border, whether the troops let me enter Florida or not ?
If I have a license plate of Florida and I’m in texas going home will I have problems going back home to Orlando Florida.
All of you are are complaining and blaming the governor or FHP, pathetic. The governor should have predicted the future and knew to close the border from LA. Secondly, who really knew the people of Florida were so disgusting that they would spread the virus rampantly. Also, closing the state is literally imposible so those who think stopping folks from going to the beach was a good idea, we’ll it’s not. How you going to enforce it? There’s maybe 75K police officers in Florida verses 20 million citizens that don’t give a crap about the law. Really? How bout not coming here to check on ur second home LA? Irresponsible, that’s the term for every single person randomly driving around right now or visiting to the panhandle. Stay ur butts at home. Don’t come here. Don’t make it worse the. It should be. Stop blaming the government. Hell, I don’t like the government either but this spread ain’t their fault, it’s the citizens fault, plain and simple. Also, quit buying all the toilet paper, unlike some of you, there are regular people wanting to do regular shopping and can’t get the basics.
We live in Georgia we want to go to Texas to see family can we travel
If you are supposed to stay put and do not own property in Florida to stay put here don’t come. If people would do what they are supposed to do we’ll be free to move about the country by Mothers Day. If you don’t stay put you are adding to the spread of the virus and continuance of the problem.
FYI wear gloves when gassing up. Who knows how many people have touched those pumps.
Sorry Florida, can’t stop anyone without probable cause. I am in Baton Rouge, if my wife and I decide to go to Panama City, by God we will. If we’re stopped for any reason without legitimate reason, I will not comply with any orders from their governor, or police.
I am from Louisiana and I have family in Jacksonville Florida. I have no plans to go see them or travel anywhere as no one else should. Florida has dropped the ball they sure as hell we’re not stopping all the spring breakers when they went down there when they had all their hotels and bars and beaches open.You sleep with the fishes you get scales. now y’all want to stop everyone from traveling after y’all let all those students down there! shame on y’all,s state governmt!
You guys are pointing the finger at the wrong person. FHP IS ASSISTING THE FL DEPT OF HEALTH…..with organizing traffic. If they so happen to walk a dog around the vehicle, the dogs are trained to smell certain things, not just drugs. Should DeSantis have started this a few weeks ago, yeah totally. But it is what it is, and folks aren’t abiding by CDC RULES AND GUIDELINES!!! So therefore drastic measures have to be taken. Eventually if this spreads even further, most likely the entire United States will be on lock down. No travel, items to live delivered to your homes by the Army to live off of. If folks don’t act right it will be a Purge / Walking Dead situation.
Just keep your cool. Restrict travel to being NECESSARY only, if you can handle it over the phone, or virtually, do so. Or have someone you know that lives here help you out so you don’t have to travel.
Florida highway patrol is stopping EVERY VEHICLE!! entering the state and not only asking questions about where you are coming from but searching vehicles and people!! My car had a dog ran around it clearly looking for drugs, I committed no crimes! I went to Alabama for 2hours and was heading back home, I feel my rights were violated. From what I have read they are not allowed or well I should just say that the Constitution say that they are not allowed to do what they are doing… I think this is out of control here at the border and we must not re-elect this incompetent de sandes!!!
First of all it is unconstitutional. Listen up, if you are driving from Louisiana to Florida, you simply drive another route and not use I 10. Now Governor, what is your plan B? You don’t have one. Why do we keep electing these types to office?
I live in New Orleans and own another home in Escambia County. There are many Louisiana residents with Florida homes. I was there recently and departed March 17.
I am returning to my Florida home in a few days. This time I am coming for 2 days to check on work being done and leaving the next day. I won’t even be there for 14 days this trip! So what happens to folks like me? This should not be a “one size fits all” provision. Hmmm. Sounds like it is okay for me to boost Florida’s economy (property taxes, gas taxes, shopping and sales taxes) but then be treated like an illegal alien for some elusive threat am presumed to pose. Maybe Louisiana should suppress folks coming from New York. That’s just crazy! Like shooting at a moving target. Seems illegal to me.
Spring break caused the virus to spread in Florida, Your incompetent Gov refusing to shut down the beaches, even when he knew how bad the virus was. So quit blaming other states for the poor decisions you (DeSantis) MADE!!
You acted to late Governor. Now you want to cry to whom ever will listen. You blew it. Be a man and accept you were wrong. You have put lives in jeopardy trying to protect the rich people.
Molinogirl90, nah let’s just make an exception for him. Yes it means him! He could get the virus just like anybody else & spread it like anyone else.
“Legally u need to have a real reason to pull someone over” just does not stand anymore. I know so many situations where the folks even asked why they were pulled over and never given a reason. U can’t fight the law, or the government.
The freedom of travel is guaranteed
In article 4 of the Constitution. It doesn’t
Say “except when”..
It is illegal.. And if ya agree with it
Then you should also agree with having
Your guns taken away because of
Another national emergency
My boyfriend works out of town in Lousiana but comes home to visit as much as possible so does this go for him to? If he gets time off of work it’s only for 2 days so he wouldn’t be able to self quarantine for 14 days first!
Meh…too little too late. I live in Florida, but work in Alabama. Every evening this week, on my way home, the majority of plates I’ve seen on I-10 are from Louisiana. So, these checkpoints are ineffectual before they’re even up and running. I understand the reasoning, but this should have been done two weeks ago, just like DeSantis should have issued a “shelter-in-place” back then. Florida is a haven for tourists regardless of the time of year or the current pandemic, so this latest attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 is ineffectual.
Too bad u didn’t enact this during spring break!
Quarantine is when you restrict the movement of sick people.
Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people.
Now that the governor of Florida has millions for his state from spring break he can blame the spread of the virus in Florida on residents from Louisiana. What a hypocrite….. is that with a capital “H”?
To little to late Governor. Seems like Alabama Governor will follow in your foot steps. Pray for our medical personnel.
It’s about time that your governor gets with the program . He’s worried about folks bringing the virus to florida . How about all those beaches that were packed with people . Those folks had to go home. bet they took the virus back to their state because the florida governor didn’t cliose ALL the beaches . thanks florida
It’s in Century, Escambia County, Alabama, Santa Rosa County, a few miles south.
It’s always been just a matter of time and how bad. Not sure how much good will come from shutting the barn door now…maybe some.
David for faster tests and healthy healthcare providers
(a cure would be nice too, not just snake oil)
Too little too late. Desantis shouldn’t have left Pensacola Beach open for spring break. It hasn’t yet been a week since they left. So, if they were infected they have another week to spread it around. No way that they won’t be the source of some local cases.
to Paul on March 27th, 2020 7:28 pm
“Stay at home -if you are sick seek help – quit spreading it across state lines”
Is it OK to spread it within a state? What about county lines, neighborhoods lines etc. You sound like a different state is a foreign country for you.
to Jeff on March 27th, 2020 6:32 pm
There are thousands if not tens of thousands of people crossing I-10 each day to Florida. By you your logic if the answer to the question “Would you like the Louisiana folks to stay with you?” is NO, they should not be let in. Calm down, the folks entering Florida are not going to stay at your house. There are other accommodations.
how about gated checkpoints with armed soldiers and dogs, bullhorns saying “your papers, we must see your papers” like the old ww2 nazis.
So, if you have Louisiana plates and travel here to stay at a property that you own you can expect to be stopped at a checkpoint? What about the Texas plates that stop to fuel up in Louisiana while handling the pump nozzle? What about the folks from central and northern Louisiana far removed from New Orleans? What about the folks from Georgia , Alabama, or Tennessee? What about the folks from Mississippi? We all know the aggressive stance that Mississippi officials have taken. Until widespread testing exists we are only guessing who may be a carrier. This virus doesn’t give a rats a** about your state line.
It is a sad world we live in, everyone in the world is going thru this horrific disaster covid- 19 . It’s time to wake up America.I think is a crying shame that people can’t simply do the right thing ,stay home and what’s worse is that the American people have to have your so called leaders tell you what the right thing to do is, this is not about the all mighty dollar, it’s about human life. Our mothers father’s sisters cousin neighbors are Dying in large numbers… WE THE PEOPLE as a whole need to make a stand here ! The very people you count on to help you and save lives the Humans that are fighting this contagious silent deadly war ,to say that they are being overwhelmed would be an understatement, we are.killing the hero’s that are trying to save us all. I worked in a hospital for years I know what it’s all about, For God’s sake Wake up America and do what is right, if you keep running around spreading the sickness that large groups of people don’t even know they have then the medical field will fail at no fault of their own. Einstein said it best” The general population doesn’t even know what’s going on and they don’t even know they don’t know”. Peace Be Still.
People are going to do what they are going to do – People are fleeing from hot spots where the virus cases are increasing exponentially.
Mardi Gras was a hotbed for the transmission of the disease and people were unknowingly doing just that..
The spread of this scourge needs to be contained, people need to care about each other in this difficult time. Family and friends are dying. Stay at home -if you are sick seek help – quit spreading it across state lines
There has been a US Supreme Court ruling on inland border inspection stations where border patrol can BRIEFLY stop travelers to inquire about citizenship, etc. In that case, they are seeking something illegal.
This is interesting because people are being stopped for being from Louisiana to inform them to self quarantine just because they live in Louisiana.
I’d love to hear from some legal experts on this.
So how is this enforced? Where do the people get quarantined? Their vehicle?
Henry, Would you like the Louisiana folks to stay with you?Their state has asked for them to stay put!!
How are they going to control and enforce this self-isolation? Are they going to check the addresses folks entering Florida give them? How about people traveling from Miami? No checkpoints? Florida has more cases than LA. This is plain stupid waste of resources.
What happens to the aircraft mechanics who work in the oil industries from surrounding states? No mechanics no oil and gas.
The very act of stopping someone creates an unnecessary risk for transmission of the virus not to mention legally you need to have a real reason to pull someone over.