A Tahoe trip for holiday weekend could get you a $1,000 fine

Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, Lake Tahoe communities are telling non-residents to stay away — and one is warning of a $1,000 fine.

Truckee and South Lake Tahoe are in California counties that have entered a Phase 2 reopening, but the restrictions allow hotels and short-term rentals to accommodate only those traveling for business or essential purposes.

South Lake Tahoe is explicitly allowing owners of vacation homes to visit. “Second-home owners are now welcomed back in the city limits to their property, (but) lodging is not available to short-term renters or patrons at this time,” said a news release issued Wednesday by the city.

But for anyone else: “not in Tahoe this time,” South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson told Sacramento TV station KOVR.

Stevenson noted that the city passed an ordinance last month allowing $1,000 fines to be imposed on violators of the travel ban.

So far, police have not cited any individual travelers — “the police department is not stopping cars,” the chief said — but they have issued citations to hotels, short-term rental owners and a bar.

Truckee is going further, discouraging visits even by vacation home owners.

“Nothing in Governor Newsom’s Resilience Roadmap plan for reopening allows for traveling to another home for leisure or recreational purposes. A good rule of thumb is, if you have to ask if your visit is business-related, it is likely not an essential reason,” said the city’s May 19 advisory on travel.

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Author: Bay Area News Group

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