Mounted police added to lockdown enforcement for patrols in Sunshine Coast beach suburbs

Mounted police will patrol Sunshine Coast beach suburbs to enforce lockdown compliance after roadside officers stopped more than 400 drivers at RBT-style checkpoints.

Mounted police will patrol Sunshine Coast beachside suburbs from Friday to enforce strict lockdown requirements.

Sunshine Coast police pulled over more than 400 motorists on Thursday as part of its RBT-style enforcement with pop-up sites scattered across the region.

District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said no tickets were issued at checkpoints on Thursday.

Police started the Sunshine Coast checkpoints on Wednesday, when 270 motorists intercepted.

Police conduct travel checks during lockdown at Alexandra Headland. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Superintendent Hawkins said three people were fined for Covid-19 breaches and each received a $1378 fine.

A man and woman were fined for non-essential travel at Landsborough while a man at Sunshine Beach failed to provide personal details.

Superintendent Hawkins said the message was clear: stay at home.

“Mounted units will be here supporting officers along the beaches and intercepting people,” Superintendent Hawkins said.

“The pop-up sites will be in place for the duration of the lockdown and we hope to see co-operation until the end of it.

“Police will be out to ensure people are doing the right thing.”

Superintendent Craig Hawkins said Sunshine Coast residents were starting to comply with lockdown requirements. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Police have issued more than $10,000 in fines and arrested two people on alleged Covid-19 breaches since the latest Sunshine Coast lockdown started.

It comes after the state recorded 10 new cases of Covid-19 overnight. Eight of those were already in quarantine but two were infectious in the community for one day.