XENIA — Ohio’s stay at home order went into effect today but don’t expect local law enforcement to be knocking on doors looking for violators.

“We’re not going to be looking for reasons to enforce it,” Police Chief Randy Person said. “It’s going to have to be pretty apparent and creating danger for the rest of us.”

Instead, Xenia officers will educate and inform violators about the order, which was issued by the Ohio Department of Health Sunday afternoon, and then request compliance.

Repeat offenders may not be warned a second time.

“Then we can charge them with misconduct in an emergency,” Person said.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, misconduct at an emergency is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If a violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to persons or property, misconduct at an emergency is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Person said violators will likely be given a summons and not arrested. He added that this latest step really wasn’t a surprise.

“We’ve seen this coming for at least a week,” Person said.