Updated Colorado Safer at Home Order - 10-mile limit for recreation

Martin le Roux wrote: The actual public health order was published earlier today (April 27). See drive.google.com/file/d/1l1…. The 10-mile limit isn't as strict as the Governor's April 26 executive order implied it would be. It's a somewhat vague recommendation, not a hard-and-fast rule. The public health order says: "Travel for recreational purposes should be [NB not "must be"] limited to your own community like your county of residence or traveling no more than about 10 miles".

The "or" is also ambiguous. Presumably it's okay to leave your own county so long as you don't travel more than 10 miles, but if that's the correct interpretation then the converse would also be true, i.e. it's okay to travel more than 10 miles so long as you don't leave your own county. For example, if you live in Boulder then it seems that a 30-mile trip to Brainard Lake would be okay.

Thanks for posting this. It’s confusing when the executive order reads differently than the health department order - this does seem to allow greater flexibility. It would be great if people would demonstrate some common sense and stop congregating in large groups and overcrowding parks (and crags). 

ErikaNW wrote: The new order states we are not allowed to recreate more than 10 miles from our place of residence and must limit travel to within our county of residence or employment.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6877564-D-2020-044-Safer-at-Home.html

So what I want to know is if I have to drive home from work to go for a jog over my lunch break?
Likewise, can I cross the street into the next county?  Where is the 'line' in County Line Road?  Are the Northbound lanes still in Boulder, or are they in Weld?
When I bike do I have to ride home facing the wrong direction?

I'm being facetious, of course, but I think the folly of taking these things too seriously is pretty obvious.

Bill Schick wrote:

Lol - reads crystal clear law stated in plain English - decides to make up something different to follow instead -> climber narc personality.

Dude, I'm not in Colorado, and I'm not driving to climb anywhere.

But could you maybe clarify the crystal-clear law for me: Did they mean 10 miles radius, "as the crow flies", or did they mean 10-mile distance as measured by odometer? if I have to drive 6 miles straight, turn right, and drive 8 more miles, am I still Ok? The direct distance would be 10 miles at that point, but my odometer would say 14...

The 10 miles radius is obviously to give people a general idea, i.e. stay local for leisure activities, not a precise (or enforceable) measurement. You disagree with that statement? Great, please do zero your odometer every time you go somewhere, in order to not violate the law accidentally.

reboot wrote:

Nah, "or" means what it means (in this instance, don't break both conditions at once).

You're assuming that people will apply logic and reason... It reminds me of a sign I saw in the Wind Rivers that said "no camping within 100' of lakes and trails". I pointed out to my climbing partner that since it said "and" and not "or", it would be okay to camp next to a lake so long we weren't also next to a trail. He wasn't convinced. We spent the rest of the trip debating that point.

Kevin DeWeese wrote:

"...certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Ain't no liberty or happiness without the first one. 

We don’t have rights, we have privileges. They’re not rights if they can be taken away. 

PNW Choss wrote: Welcome to Soviet Colorado comrades. Isn't "democracy" fucking great.

If this comment gets banned for "Violating guideline #1" it will only prove your point even more. 

Lena chita wrote:

But could you maybe clarify the crystal-clear law for me:

You mean explain something to a narc?  Lol.

Now the state is suggesting all businesses check a client's or employees temperature before entering the establishment. Why didn't this start a month ago? None of the essential businesses have been doing this and some just made masks mandatory for employees. Until two days ago only half our local grocery store workers were wearing masks. Grocery stores! FFS! Less in Wal-Mart.
Are they going to now require testing in these places ? How about gas stations? Liquor stores?  
Truth is they have no clue. Just feeding the public something to appease.

In the safer at home order linked by the OP, I see no mention of a 10 mile rule or staying in your county of residence.

Where do you get this stuff from?

Rich Ludwig wrote: In the safer at home order linked by the OP, I see no mention of a 10 mile rule or staying in your county of residence.

Where do you get this stuff from?

Well, I got it from the document (page 3,  section H.2.ii) sorry I can’t copy and past the text here since I’m not at my computer. As someone else mentioned, the Colorado Health Department seems to have phrased it more leniently than the Executive Order. The document was linked in a news article published in the Colorado Sun. So, I guess that answers your question of where I got this stuff from.

Glad I don't live in Colorado

I thought I read somewhere that you could recreate anywhere in your county + 3 miles. I'll try to find that.

Trevor Taylor wrote: Glad I don't live in Colorado

Colorado probability agrees with you.

Prohibiting camping seems somewhat unenforceable on large swaths of BLM land. From what I've seen in western CO, most non-locals are flocking this way to get a break from the insanity of the Front Range, which makes sense. If this order was enforced to all of CO, we'd be seeing a lot of tickets.

curt86iroc wrote:

Clear Creek County wrote plenty of tickets over the weekend for out of county cars parked at THs...

I keep hearing this, but no one has been able to tell me what the actual citation is for. I think it's a rumor.

Maybe being on a closed road? Idk, I've heard a lot of people climbing clear creek crags that are packed and none of them have gotten.

Thanks Chalk User! That helps clarify. It’s confusing when the governor writes en executive order that states the health department must include certain restrictions (and that gets press), then the actual health department order is different. Regardless, as you pointed out, the intention is the same.

Jack - the clear creek county closures to out of county residents are for county owned roads. If you are thinking about the crags in clear creek canyon, that are in clear creek county (tunnel 5/6) those are on US 6 which is not impacted. 

Does the language in the Executive Order take precedent over the CDPHE order? I wish they would have consistent messaging. 

This was in the Colorado Sun today:
https://coloradosun.com/2020/04/28/colorado-safer-at-home-outdoor-recreation-10-miles/?utm_source=The+Colorado+Sun&utm_campaign=bbe9e7a851-Sun-Up&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2e5f9a0f1b-bbe9e7a851-66432529&mc_cid=bbe9e7a851&mc_eid=f7007f4649

‘Colorado is loosening some restrictions on people’s movement starting this week as the state enters a new phase of its battle against the new coronavirus, but travel for outdoor recreation is one area that’s not being relaxed.

In fact, there may actually be stricter limits in place for people seeking some fresh air.

Gov. Jared Polis’ “safer-at-home” executive order issued Sunday night includes a provision ordering Coloradans not to travel more than 10 miles from their homes to recreate. That means activities like hiking, biking, skiing, fishing and rafting.

“Travel for recreational purposes should be limited to your own community, like your county of residence,” the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s public health order, which went into effect on Monday morning, says.

The new safer-at-home order is in effect through at least May 27, meaning that Coloradans are expected to stay close to home past Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer and a popular weekend for camping and hiking. The fear is that visitors will either contract or spread the virus in areas of the state not as well equipped to deal with mass infections.

“You made the sacrifice of staying at home for 32 days,” Polis said at a news conference on Monday. “I think you can make the sacrifice of going to your second or third favorite park for another month.” ‘

Jack Markovich wrote:

I keep hearing this, but no one has been able to tell me what the actual citation is for. I think it's a rumor.

its not. i watched them do it...

curt86iroc wrote:

its not. i watched them do it...

Still doesn't answer my question of what the citation is for. You saw officers writing tickets and putting them on people's car? So whoever the car is registered to gets a citation for violating a public health order?

Jack Markovich wrote:

So whoever the car is registered to gets a citation for violating a public health order?

yup... if you want more details, call the county and ask.