Thousands of complaints, a dozen citations: Officials crack down on social distancing, PPE guidelines

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By Carol Sbarge

ATLANTA — More people are getting out, but are businesses following the guidelines to keep everyone safe?

The Georgia Department of Public Safety has already looked into thousands of complaints. The department said it has issued a dozen citations and some of them might surprise you.

Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge learned not all of them involved businesses.

When the shelter-in-place order was issued and then reopening guidelines, several Georgia agencies were assigned to investigate any complaints.

That included the Georgia Department of Public Safety, sheriff’s departments and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

“I’m a small business owner and I’m doing things the right way. So I’d hope everyone else is doing it too," owner Lauren Hudson said.

The DPS said it has investigated 1,900 complaints since early April. Spokesperson Lt. Stephanie Stallings said 442 of them they considered sustained.

“What we mean by that is there were violations. Not social distancing or not having personal protective equipment for employees. If they had, then they just weren’t wearing them," she said.

Stallings added that most of the businesses have been very responsive.

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Out of the complaints investigated, Stallings said they issued a dozen citations. Some were businesses and churches. Others were actually people driving.

“Unfortunately, we had a lot of people on the road, nonessentially who were traveling 100 mph. They were attempted to be stopped by a trooper and they fled," she said.

Escobar Restaurant and Tapas in downtown Atlanta, which is owned by rapper 2Chainz, is one business that was cited.

Georgia State Patrol investigated a complaint of too many people being close together. Stallings said the manager closed the restaurant, but another complaint came the next day.

“There were the same violations as the night before. A warning had been given, so at this point, a citation was issued," she said.

Sbarge reached out to Escobar’s for comment, but has not heard back.

If you have a concern about a business, the Georgia Department of Public Safety says you can call them or your local sheriff’s department.