MARION (WSIL) -- Illinois businesses that choose to reopen and violate the stay-at-home order could face , but some law enforcement agencies aren't budging at the notion.
"There are a limited set of warnings and then penalties that can be invoked," Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday.
The governor filed emergency rules Friday which can punish businesses for violating regulations set by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Businesses can face Class A misdemeanor charges and fines ranging from $75 to $2,500. Less than a year of jail time is also a possibility.
In addition, "[T]he state can revoke the business' liquor license or impose a closure order by IDPH," Pritzker said.
Some restaurants tell News 3 that they will keep abiding by the stay-at-home order, adding that it's in the best interest of public health
But Gabe Parker, owner of Raw Fitness in Marion, feels differently. He tells News 3 that the governor simply doesn't know what businesses are doing to protect customers and employees.
Parker adds that he'll keep his gym running so that he can support his family and pay his bills. Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick says he doesn't plan on incarcerating anyone who violates the new rules.
"The economy's in a really bad condition... I know that businesses want to get open because that's their income," Vick said. "We're just not going to arrest people because they're trying to make a living.
A bipartisan committee is going to review the new rules on Wednesday. If the committee doesn't reject the rules, they will remain in effect for 150 days.
