LIHU‘E — The Hawai’i National Guard assisted the Kaua‘i Police Department with two checkpoints on the island yesterday.
On Tuesday, checkpoints were set up on Kuhio Highway near the Kaua‘i Beach Resort and on Kaumuali‘i Highway near Halfway Bridge. Checkpoint traffic was backed-up about a mile in both directions around noon, according to real-time traffic data on Google Maps.
KPD checkpoints began on Mar. 26 to enforce state and county emergency orders to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus. This was the first instance of the KPD enlisting the help of the National Guard for this purpose, and it will not the last.
“This collaboration, which is under the unified command of Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team, will be the start of more routine checkpoints around the island at various times,” a KPD press release said. Hawai’i National Guard members at checkpoints will not be armed and will defer all enforcement action to the KPD.
For the past two weeks, the KPD has held near-daily checkpoints at random times and locations on the island.
Last week, over 4,000 drivers went through a checkpoint on Kaumuali‘i Highway near Halfway Bridge, most stating they were traveling for essential purposes, the department reported. Checkpoints have been held at locations in Waimea, Hanalei, Poipu and Kapa‘a.
Checkpoint manpower is supplemental to normal patrol and is not drawn from regular patrol resources, KPD Public Information Officer Coco Zickos said in an email Tuesday.
“Patrol officers are dispatched or proactively conducting checks on stay-at-home compliance,” Zickos wrote.
Since stay-at-home orders have been in effect last month, the KPD reported a 41% reduction in major traffic crashes from February to March.
Failure to follow these orders could result in a misdemeanor charge punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or up-to a year of jail time.
“We have reached a critical moment in the pandemic, as case counts climb,” KPD Chief Todd Raybuck said in a press release. “Our island has very limited healthcare resources and we must all give careful consideration to how our individual actions may cause the virus to spread further throughout our community.”
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the U.S. National Guard in a photo. It was the Hawai’i National Guard. This story was updated April 8 at 9:23 a.m.
•••
Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
