Covidiots: Locals and visitors breaking the rules
Police have stepped up compliance checks after the latest lockdown was announced.
Fines issued
Police have stepped up compliance checks after the latest lockdown was announced on Saturday afternoon, with both locals and Melburnians receiving fines for breaches.
Senior Sergeant Andy O’Brien said it was disappointing to see so many people still refusing to abide by the public health directives, with police receiving a large amount of calls over the weekend.
In response to continued concern from locals about people arriving from Melbourne, before the lockdown came into force, police set up a checkpoint at the Phillip Island Bridge.
Senior Sergeant O’Brien confirmed 200 vehicles were checked, but everyone had proof of local or regional addresses.
Once the lockdown came into force, police issued a number of fines in response to complaints from the public.
“At 4.30pm on Saturday, a family from Clyde North decided to still come to the Airbnb property they’d booked at Sunset Strip,” Snr Sergeant O’Brien said.
Two tickets of $1817 were issued to the adults.
On Saturday evening, police followed up complaints of a party in Cape Woolamai and found three young locals, two males and one female sitting in a hot tub and drinking. All three received a $1817 fine.
Four local men having a “mini party with loud music” in Sunderland Bay on Saturday night were each issued with $1817 fines.
On Sunday evening, police fined a woman who captured a possum at her Brunswick house and decided to release it on Phillip Island.
Police have warned they will be “hyper vigilant” on any breaches during the lockdown.
“We are getting a lot of calls and we are trying to respond to them all,” Snr Sergeant O’Brien said.
He urged everyone to adhere to the stay-at-home restrictions, describing the level of traffic in Cowes on Monday as concerning.
“I’m not sure how it can be so busy in lockdown,” he said.
“Please stay home, follow the restrictions, and be kind to each other.”
Police can issue on-the-spot fines of up to $1817 for adults and $10,904 for businesses failing to comply with the current COVID-19 restrictions.
A $5452 fine can be issued for anyone found breaching gatherings directions in the home or outside, or breaching the requirement to isolate or quarantine.
People who do not wear a face mask without a lawful exemption can be fined $200.
The latest Covid-Safe setting are available at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings.
