Posted
April 13, 2020 13: 40: 11
The Easter long weekend has traditionally been a time to travel and visit family, but with coronavirus restrictions in place, both of those activities can get you in trouble with the law.
Over the weekend, police around the country issued fines for breaching social-distancing rules.
Here’s how each state and territory performed in terms of following the directives.
New South Wales
NSW Police charged five people and issued 111 fines for breaching physical-distancing guidelines over the weekend.
Authorities had promised to increase patrols to make sure people did not travel or get together without a “reasonable excuse”.
Over the weekend, $1,000 fines or court notices were handed out to people having parties and ignoring move-on directions, amongst other things.
Included in the crackdown were 19 people who were fined after gathering for an illegal street-racing meet west of Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Police said they saw up to 40 vehicles gathered at Stockrington Conservation Area in Haul Road.
Many of them escaped into surrounding bushland, but 19 cars were stopped.
There were also three children — a nine-year-old and two 18-month-olds — accompanying adults.
“Gatherings of virtually any kind are breaching the current Public Health Order, but gathering to conduct street racing and burnouts in a park is illegal, irresponsible and beyond my understanding,” Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said.
“I am appalled at the fact that up to 40 drivers were willing to put themselves and others at risk on so many levels.
“And I am even more appalled by the fact three children — who have no choice in the matter — were also exposed to risk. My officers will be alerting the relevant authorities to the actions of their parents and caregivers.”
NSW Police has recorded 53 cou