During a winter storm in Erie County, New York, driving bans were put in place to ensure the safety of residents. However, there were reports of non-essential businesses such as Tim Hortons and Amazon expecting their employees to work despite the ban.

County Executive Mark Poloncarz emphasized that during such extreme weather conditions, businesses like Tim Hortons and Amazon were not considered essential. He stated that while people may desire their cup of coffee or expect deliveries from Amazon, it was not necessary for employees to risk traveling to work during a driving ban when heavy snowfall was occurring.

Poloncarz’s remarks shed light on the challenges faced by local law enforcement in enforcing the driving bans, as employees of non-essential businesses were being asked to report to work. The situation raised concerns about the safety of employees and the enforcement of driving bans.

Furthermore, it was reported that the Amazon sorting facility was closed during the storm, and local delivery trucks were not operating. Lancaster Supervisor Robert Leary highlighted the challenges faced by the Town of Lancaster as waves of Amazon tractor-trailers arrived at the Amazon Fulfillment Center, despite the driving ban.

The incidents in Erie County, New York, have sparked discussions about the definition of essential workers during extreme weather conditions and the enforcement of driving bans. The concerns raised by county officials and law enforcement have brought attention to the need for clear guidelines and adherence to safety measures during severe weather events.