Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a letter this week to police chiefs and sheriffs across the state about how to enforce his latest stay at home executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week Lee extended the state's stay at home order through April 30. The governor's decision aligns Tennessee with President Donald Trump's latest calls for businesses to reopen in early May.

"The purpose of this letter is to respond to inquiries seeking guidance regarding enforcement of the Orders, which require Tennesseans to stay at home except when engaging in Essential Activity or Essential Services," Lee wrote in a two-page letter dated Tuesday.

The orders also require the state's nonessential businesses to be temporarily closed for

the health and welfare of the community.

Since the orders were issued, Lee wrote, many questions have arisen over what is, should, or should not be covered in the list of essential activities and essential services.

"However, the purpose of the orders was not to micromanage every person and business, but rather to provide a broad framework that results in Tennesseans staying home as much as possible, while allowing sufficient room for persons to exercise discretion and judgment based on their circumstances and the wide array of essential activity required to maintain the health and safety of Tennesseans," Lee wrote.

In exercising this authority, Lee continued, authorities should utilize sound judgment, restraint, and discretion, particularly given that whether a person or business is engaging in an essential activity or essential service depends on the circumstances and specific work or activity involved, which can be difficult to judge because each situation and each community is different.

"For example, work that may not seem essential may in fact form a component part of an important good or service, and going for a walk or drive may serve as an important, safe way to get some fresh air," the governor wrote.

Therefore, in all cases, he encouraged law enforcement to review orders carefully, educate and warn persons and businesses regarding the provisions of the orders, and provide them with "a reasonable opportunity to comply before considering stricter enforcement measures."

Gov. Bill Lee letter to police chiefs, sheriffs | Judgment (Law) | Discretion

Further, any enforcement measures should be limited to clear violations and used only as a last resort if the person or business refuses to voluntarily comply.

"We should not be using the force of law in difficult times to punish our neighbors over genuine disagreements in gray areas," Lee said.

The instructions also said orders do not require a person to possess papers or documentary proof that they are engaging in essential activity or essential services, so requests should not be made for such documents.

Lee concluded the orders do not encourage or recommend that an officer stop a person (or vehicle) simply for being out of the person’s home, absent evidence of criminal conduct.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.