Penalty infringement notices for breaching
COVID-19 restrictions
Things are in a state of constant change as the
COVID-19 crisis affects our daily lives. Below are
some examples of Penalty Infringement Notices in
relation to alleged breaches of the Public health Act
for NSW. Whilst each state is different, the below
provides some clear examples of what NOT to do.
As a whole we are continually being encouraged
to reduce our movements to only essential
gatherings and services as part of the ‘Stay At
Home’ direction. But what does that look like?
What this means is considering whether your
employees need to come into the office and then
if they need to go to/from work. Keep in mind they
can still break their journey to ‘buy essentials’ and
when they get home, go for a run/walk, take dog
for a walk in no more than groups of 2 (at 1.5m
apart), or together as a family / household. Any
deviation from this (as exampled below) will be
dealt with in accordance with the current Public
Health Act provisions for NSW or similar provisions
in other states.
A total of 13 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)
were issued in NSW on the 1st April in relation
to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act as
listed in a couple of examples below. The directive
for both individuals and businesses is simple –
don’t be a workplace hero. Stay home if you’re
not already and isolate at all costs. It’s not only
considerate to your fellow Australians, but no
business or individual needs to risk a fine over
such a simple directive.
Individual Breaches from Wednesday
April 1, 2020
• Just after midnight, police were patrolling
Artarmon when they saw two men standing
together on the Princes Highway. It’s alleged
that as officers approached, one of the men ran
– but was chased and eventually stopped by
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police. Both men gave varying accounts about
why they were out, however neither satisfied
the requirements stipulated by the Public Health
Order. The men – aged 19 and 24 – were
searched, issued with infringement notices and
moved on.
• About 1.30am, officers attached to New
England Police District stopped a vehicle on
Adelaide Street, Moree, for the purposes of a
roadside breath test. The driver, a 34-year-old
woman, was unable to provide a reasonable
excuse for leaving her home in Coonamble and
was issued with a penalty infringement notice.
• About 3.15am officers from Orana Mid-Western
Police District fined a 23-year-old man for not
complying with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9
– COVID-19). The man was given a warning
by police the previous evening, before being
caught leaving his home a second time without
a reasonable excuse.
• A 21-year-old man ignored two warnings
to be fined $1000 for failing to comply with
Ministerial directions under the Public Health
Act. Officers attached to Newcastle City
Police District found the man for the third time
that day (Wednesday 1 April 2020), on Market
St eating a kebab on a bench.
Business Breach from Wednesday
April 1, 2020
• Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District
attended a remedial massage business
on Harrison Street, Cardiff, about 4pm on
Wednesday 1 April 2020, following information
it was continuing to operate. Police observed
several customers enter and leave the premises.
The operator, a 57-year-old woman, was spoken
to and issued a $5,000 PIN for failing to comply
with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19)