A New York county announced the launch of a travel ban initiative where “essential workers” can apply for an exemption in the event of a state of emergency or other “catastrophe.”
Erie County officials claimed exemptions from their new online portal will be used by employers during winter storms and other emergencies when a driving ban has been declared.
The county said the essential employee exemption portal is to be used by employers during winter storm events and other emergencies when a driving ban has been declared. https://t.co/sWIlOt5BRJ
— 7 News WKBW (@WKBW) December 15, 2023
“The travel exemption portal will define specific categories of workers using a tiered concept to identify who would be exempt from a travel ban in order to commute to and from their place of employment,” the news release said.
“The list of essential employees will be reviewed annually and employers will be asked to provide updates when an essential employee’s work status changes for any reason that warrants removal from the exemption list.”
WKBW TV disabled their video report‘s embed, but you can still view it on YouTube:
The county defines essential workers as law enforcement, first responders, healthcare workers, civil servants, farmers, and construction workers.
Erie County first imposed a travel ban in 2022 following a winter storm that killed several stranded motorists.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz vowed to punish citizens who defied the county’s impending travel bans, which he said could be used not just for a “major weather event,” but also “some other type of catastrophe.”
“Under the New York Public Officers Law, no one may travel except personnel deemed essential during the emergency,” he declared Friday on X. promising to sic law enforcement on those caught driving without a movement pass.
Important thread: During a snow emergency, a driving/travel ban emergency order may be instituted to protect lives and get our community open as soon as possible. Under the New York Public Officers Law, no one may travel except personnel deemed essential during the emergency. 1/7
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 15, 2023
Poloncarz, a vehement anti-Trumper, also mocked those concerned about the government overreach.
“I’m enjoying the replies from out-of-state trolls to my posts about who are essential personnel authorized to drive during a snowstorm travel ban. Here’s the deal, since you hate government so much, don’t call 911 after getting stuck and demand we save your sorry patriot butts,” he wrote.
I’m enjoying the replies from out-of-state trolls to my posts about who are essential personnel authorized to drive during a snowstorm travel ban. Here’s the deal, since you hate government so much, don’t call 911 after getting stuck and demand we save your sorry patriot butts.
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 16, 2023
Notably, Poloncarz was also a COVID tyrant, imposing mask mandates until well into 2022 and creating a hotline for residents to snitch on their neighbors if they didn’t adhere to COVID protocols.
Travel bans like these will likely be much easier to enforce in the coming years after the Biden regime and Congress passed an “infrastructure” bill to install remote kill switches in all vehicles after 2026.
In the wake of COVID, government officials just can’t give up their newfound power to restrict the behavior and movements of citizens.
Travel restrictions are a key tenet of the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset, which for example promotes the notion of a “carbon passport” to limit travel in the name of climate change.