“You are hereby notified after July 1, 2015, the Halifax County Sheriff's Office will commence enforcement of (North Carolina) General Statute 14-3065.4 against any person involved in activity made unlawful (under the statute). This includes, but is not limited to any owner, operator, manager or employee involved in the illegal activity. I, along with the police chiefs of Halifax County, are committed to the enforcement of this statute.”

Each violation is a separate offense, Tripp said in the letter. The first offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor, while the second is a Class H felony and the third or subsequent is a Class G felony.

“This is the only notice you will receive from the Halifax County Sheriff's Office prior to taking our enforcement action,” Tripp said in the letter. “Great consideration has been given in recent months in lieu of potential legislation and the use of Halifax County tax dollars. In turn, cooperation in this matter would be appreciated.”

Tripp said the enforcement will be county-wide, including municipalities. The letter essentially means the businesses should close or after July 1 there will be enforcement.

“We're working together,” said Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Chuck Hasty. “If there is a violation of the law it will be enforced.”

There are five establishments in the city, according to its tax office.

The letter comes on the heels of a November ruling by the state Court of Appeals that upheld the convictions of two people in Edgecombe for violating a state ban on video sweepstakes.