La. drivers will be stopped at Florida COVID-19 interstate checkpoint

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Louisiana residents driving to or through Florida need to be prepared to be stopped by a checkpoint at the state line.

Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation are enforcing COVID-19 screening checkpoints on Interstate 10 and Interstate 95. Under Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-86, all vehicles will be stopped at these checkpoints and drivers will be prepared to answer coronavirus screening questions.

Commercial trucks and shipping trucks are asked to remain in the left lane to bypass these checkpoints.

The screeners at the checkpoints will be looking specifically for travelers coming from coronavirus ‘hotspot’ states, specifically, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Louisiana.

A statement regarding Florida law enforcement and COVID-19 checkpoints outlines their procedures for screening saying travelers from these infected states “will be required to isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to Florida or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter.”

#ICYMI: Per Executive Order 20-86, issued by @GovRonDeSantis—motorists traveling from areas with substantial community spread will be required to isolate for 14 days upon entry to FL or the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter, & prepare for additional monitoring by DOH. pic.twitter.com/ORx8Zo6s59

— FLORIDA DOT (@MyFDOT) March 30, 2020

The statement continues, “Upon entry in Florida, each arriving traveler or responsible family member (if traveling as a family) will be required to complete a traveler form. The form requires key information, including each traveler’s contact information and trip details. Failure to complete the form and failure to follow any isolation or quarantine order from DOH is a violation of Florida law.”

It also says the checkpoint at I-10 at the Alabama/Florida line will be staffed by 16 Florida State troopers in 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day.

WWL First News reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation for comment. A spokesperson for FDOT says, "The Florida Department of Transportation is laser-focused on implementing the Governor’s Executive Orders and assisting in the state’s response to COVID-19."

You can read the full statement from FDOT here.