# I am a driving enthusiast. Will I be breaking the law during any lockdown? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 24, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138 "2020-03-24T01:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/41 "2020-03-27T09:13:02Z")
Here in New Zealand, we have been at a Level-4 status (basically remain in your property except for limited trips for some local exercise, food shopping, medical reasons or essential workers travel) for 2 days. Police have been checking some of those driving on the roads and out and about, and have emergency powers to fine or detain those that flout the Level-4 restrictions. They have already detained one rule-breaker who was caught on consecutive nights driving on an Auckland motorway with no valid justification. However, the driver also did not have the suitable legal right to be driving the vehicle they were caught in, so their detention may have more to do with that. The expectation is that people will shop and exercise locally, and that extended travel without a valid reason is banned, and the police (with the assistance of the Defense Force if required) will enforce that, and the Government will back up the Police Commissioner who is responsible for that enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/42 "2020-03-27T09:19:54Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I cannot see why simply going for a drive, for fun, would be worthy of a traffic stop by police . . . Because how can they know, without stopping you, that you are simply going for a drive, for fun? If your lockdown law is of the form “you may leave your house for X, Y and Z reasons, and for no other reason”, then enforcement requires both the power to check, and some degree of actual checking, that those who have left their houses have done so for one of the permitted reasons. So the question really comes down to, how important is it to enforce lockdown laws? And if you want to know how likely you are to be stopped and checked, what matters here is not how important _you_ think it is to enforce lockdown laws, but how important the police think it is. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/43 "2020-03-27T09:28:46Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > For any activity that means being around people or being out of your house, the question is: will you die if you do not do _X_? If not, then don’t do _X_. > > It’s a very simple metric; not sure why so many people have trouble with it. I’ll just disagree because I think that the panic from one health issue shouldn’t compel us to do more unhealthy things in response. There are a lot of activities that won’t cause you to die if you don’t them but are still very helpful (if not essential) for maintaining basic health and human dignity. And if you don’t do them you could develop complications from other illness like severe mental illness among others. Losing sleep, not exercising, not going outside, not eating well = for me probably suicidal depression, anxiety, diabetes, dissociation and who knows what else. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/44 "2020-03-27T09:34:17Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > In my state we have the county listed on the license plate. So If I wander over to another county they can tell right away. I went to high school in a town that is in 2 states. Right now I live close to the intersection of 3 cities and 2 counties (and a 3rd is around 1/2 a mile over on the main road on the other side of my community). I work (around 52-60 “essential” hours a week) in that 3rd county. My house is in one city, with a postal address for another city, in yet another school district. My primary grocery store is 5.1 miles away, 3 cities over in a different county. Anyway, if you are out for a drive and it’s during the new “regular” business hours, I don’t see why you can’t just say you need food or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/45 "2020-03-27T18:46:31Z")
On the radio this morning they were answering questions about the stay at home order. This might not exactly answer the OP’s question, but someone asked “Can I drive to a beach an hour away with my dog? Does that fall under the exception for outdoor activities?” The answer to that was no. You can participate in outdoor activities, but they want you to stay local. No unnecessary traveling to other cities. Applying that to the OP’s question, I suppose you could drive around your own neighborhood without breaking the rule, but that’s not very fun. It sounds like taking a several hour drive out of town is out. I’m in the same boat as the OP. I’d really like to take my Miata on a drive up Highway 193 north of Placerville now that the weather is getting nice (although it looks like rain this weekend anyway). It sounds like that would be technically out of the question for now. Although like others have said, there’s really know way for them to know why you’re out driving around, but it sounds like they’d prefer you didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/46 "2020-03-27T18:50:20Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I’ll just disagree because I think that the panic from one health issue shouldn’t compel us to do more unhealthy things in response. There are a lot of activities that won’t cause you to die if you don’t them but are still very helpful (if not essential) for maintaining basic health and human dignity. And if you don’t do them you could develop complications from other illness like severe mental illness among others. Losing sleep, not exercising, not going outside, not eating well = for me probably suicidal depression, anxiety, diabetes, dissociation and who knows what else. Thanks for your helpful and insightful contribution to the discussion. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/47 "2020-03-27T19:21:04Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Thanks for your helpful and insightful contribution to the discussion. > > :rolleyes: **Moderator Note** Once again, you need to refrain from personal sniping in this forum, and since this is the second time I’ve had to note you for it recently, I’m making this an instruction. Further posts of this kind may receive a warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/48 "2020-03-27T19:23:02Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > For any activity that means being around people or being out of your house, the question is: will you die if you do not do _X_? If not, then don’t do _X_. > > It’s a very simple metric; not sure why so many people have trouble with it. People have trouble with it because it’s an absurdly restrictive metric. I mean, I’m not going to die if I run out of soap and can’t bathe properly. By your ridiculous metric, I shouldn’t take a trip to the store to get soap. But that’s absolutely bonkers, just as any number of other things are- nobody’s going to _die_ without fresh produce, coffee, tea, etc… but they sure make life a lot more livable. So people are going to go get them at the store. Similarly, you can’t stay entirely cooped up in your house either- you have to go on walks, or even drives just to get a change of scenery. Now I wouldn’t advocate going out and driving like you’re on the autobahn, but if you went out and drove around for an hour in the city or countryside, that’s a reasonable risk. The likelihood of getting in a wreck is even lower than before with fewer drivers, and if it really helps you stay in otherwise, it seems like a reasonable risk to me. And that’s it- reasonable risk ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/49 "2020-03-28T12:16:37Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Long drives with no pit stops? I’m used to flushing toilets so it changes things, but yeah, love to drive. HOld it or make accomdations, either way plan ahead. We were planning a trip to Big Bend National Park this week. I can’t imagine a more “socially distant” place. We can make the entire trip in our RV only filling up once (to return) and have \*absolutely no contact _otherwise. Other than a remote possibility of encountering someone else at a dump station_, we are completely self-contained as to food, water, everything and can do the entire week with no contact at all. But.. the park closed all the campgrounds. Yay. \*IME, since everyone’s draining raw sewage, social distancing is practiced enthusiastically at dump stations even in normal times. Nobody’s shaking hands, trust me. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/50 "2020-03-28T12:28:33Z")
Sorry, missed the edit window. I meant to add that our city’s shelter-in-place order includes a list of “Essential Activities” for which residents are allowed to leave home. Third on the list is: _“–To engage in outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with social distancing requirements of 6 feet (for example, walking, biking, hiking, golfing, or running).”_ In addition, the police chief has stated they will not be pulling cars over to check for compliance, only for the normal violations, etc. I take this to mean I can go for a drive, or wander over to the boat dock and take a jaunt on the local lake (as I have been doing). I take pains to ensure I comply with distancing and the only passengers are household members. I figure if golfing’s OK, then fishing probably is too. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/51 "2020-03-28T12:53:28Z")
Two issues that are happening around my area that would seem applicable to the OP’s request. 1: People from high infection rate areas are traveling to areas of low infection. The people in low infection rate areas are getting furious about this. No violence yet, but some are ready to string up the next people from NYC who shows up in their bumfuck town who has no medical capacity for a outbreak. 2: Just got a memo from our fire department, EMT’s are now in short supply, and they may have to backfill with members of the fire departments (who usually have very limited medical training as their job normally involved getting any person in distress to the EMT for treatment, not the treatment itself). Not saying that you would get into a accident, but looking at it from ‘their’ perspective they are also not going to take to kindly. So if your going to drive as recreation, please drive around your block or something like that, you are not wanted or needed elsewhere in that endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/52 "2020-03-28T13:18:45Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > In addition, the police chief has stated they will not be pulling cars over to check for compliance, only for the normal violations, etc. I have heard in some jurisdictions police chiefs and sheriffs have been giving off-the-book orders to their underlings that should not be stopping anyone for "normal violations’ unless the violation is a blatant risk to other drivers in attempt to minimize the officers interactions with someone who might be infected. They won’t admit this publicly though. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/53 "2020-03-28T16:30:55Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > So if your going to drive as recreation, please drive around your block or something like that, you are not wanted or needed elsewhere in that endeavor. Restaurant owners and their employees would disagree with you. But if it’s just for the act of driving around then the op states there will be no contact with people. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/54 "2020-03-28T18:26:39Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > “Hi, do you know why I pulled you over?” > > “Not sure, officer. I was doing the speed limit.” > > “Well, as you may know, the entire state is in lockdown mode. You are not allowed to drive except for essentials.” > > “I am a driving enthusiast, and am not going to another human habitation or establishment to meet anyone, am just going to drive around for about an hour, and return home.” > > “I am afraid that you are under arrest. Please exit the car slowly…” > So, even if I am not going to be near another human being, they can still fine/arrest/detain me? In which circumstances would such a law be enforceable? And is it worth it for me to be constantly pulled over by the cops for the simple crime of going out and enjoying the spring? I asked this q earlier. What if you exercise your right to silence. I THINK when pulled over, the only thing you have to provide is id, registration and insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/55 "2020-03-28T18:27:54Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Two issues that are happening around my area that would seem applicable to the OP’s request. > > 1: People from high infection rate areas are traveling to areas of low infection. The people in low infection rate areas are getting furious about this. No violence yet, but some are ready to string up the next people from NYC who shows up in their bumfuck town who has no medical capacity for a outbreak. > > 2: Just got a memo from our fire department, EMT’s are now in short supply, and they may have to backfill with members of the fire departments (who usually have very limited medical training as their job normally involved getting any person in distress to the EMT for treatment, not the treatment itself). Not saying that you would get into a accident, but looking at it from ‘their’ perspective they are also not going to take to kindly. > > So if your going to drive as recreation, please drive around your block or something like that, you are not wanted or needed elsewhere in that endeavor. > **[Rhode Island Police to Hunt Down New Yorkers Seeking Refuge](https://news.yahoo.com/rhode-island-police-hunt-down-211405349.html)** > > (Bloomberg) -- Rhode Island police began stopping cars with New York plates Friday. On Saturday, the National Guard will help them conduct house-to-house searches to find people who traveled from New York and demand 14 days of self-quarantine.“Right... ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/56 "2020-03-28T19:25:54Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > We were planning a trip to Big Bend National Park this week. I can’t imagine a more “socially distant” place. We can make the entire trip in our RV only filling up once (to return) and have \*absolutely no contact \*otherwise. We had planned a cross-continent RV trip this spring and summer but that’s off now. Our backup would be to camper locally but that won’t happen right away per this [USDA Forest Service Regional Order 20-02](https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd717103.pdf) (pdf) which prohibits “Entering or using a Developed Recreation Site or portion thereof, except trailheads.” Punishment is a fine up to $5000 for an individual or $10000 for an organization, or up to 6 months in jail, or both. We’ll stay home, I guess. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/57 "2020-03-28T19:33:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Even in the event that cops were going to start pulling over anyone they saw driving on the road, here’s how that interaction would most likely carry out; > > “Can I ask you where you’re going?” > “To the store.” > “Alright. Drive safe!” Or he could tell the truth: “Can I ask you where you’re going?” “Home.” “All right. Drive safe!” ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138/58 "2020-03-29T00:19:18Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Or he could tell the truth: > “Can I ask you where you’re going?” > “Home.” > “All right. Drive safe!” Did he notice the behatted corpse in your passenger seat as you drive the diamond lane? We’re getting cabin feverish, esp MrsRico, housebound for almost a month now. We’d love to go joyriding, maybe over Kit Carson pass and into Nevada. Driving uphill, we could claim something or other, maybe a prescription at the Carson City Costco. Driving back we’d claim to be homeward bound, sure. I don’t think the feds have quarantined California yet and blockaded the borders so we’d probably return alive and unjailed. But say “Something Happens” while we’re joyriding, and cops or EMTs get involved, then we’re exposing others and our goose is cooked, so to speak. Better stay home. Web surf. Play music. Cook something. Run a marathon inside the house - one circuit through the kitchen and dining is about 100 feet - 53 laps are 1 mile - repeat 26 times. Exhale. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-driving-enthusiast-will-i-be-breaking-the-law-during-any-lockdown/850138.md?page=2)