Port Augusta partygoers fined for breaking COVID-19 rules
A group of 16 people drinking at Port Augusta house has been caught by police breaching the COVID-19 restrictions, becoming the latest to break the rules in the area.
Upper Spencer Gulf
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MORE than a dozen partygoers in Port Augusta have each been slapped with a $1060 fine for breaching COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.
Port Augusta police were called to a house on Tuesday at 12.30pm and found 16 people heavily intoxicated and not adhering to the 10-person limit on gatherings or staying 1.5m away from each other.
All 16 people were issued with an on the spot fine of $1060.
The incident is the latest COVID-19 breach in the area, with a total of 42 fines being handed out in the Upper Spencer Gulf area.
On April 9, $11,000 in fines were handed out by police, after 11 people were caught in Port Augusta breaking the rules during a backyard party.
Also last month 13 people were caught having a house party in Whyalla. The group were alleged to be drinking together on the porch and were all fined $1000.
Police say that more than 150 fines and 130 formal warnings have been handed out to people for breaching coronavirus restrictions since the start of April.
A police spokesman said it was disappointing to see people still breaking the rules during self-isolation.
“While most people are doing the right thing and complying with these directions, there are still a minority within the community who are not complying with the restrictions and are putting others at risk,” the spokesman said.
The maximum penalty for breaching COVID-19 restrictions is a $1000 fine for individuals and $5000 fine for corporate bodies.