Sydney man hit with $4135 fine, ordered into quarantine

There were scratches on his vehicle that suggest he went off-road while crossing into Queensland. More details.

A man who travelled to southwest Queensland from Covid-ravaged Sydney has been fined $4135 for illegally crossing the border and ordered into quarantine.

Darling City Patrol Group Acting Inspector Greg Wheeler said the 43-year-old North Ryde man came to the attention of Miles police when he was stopped for an unrelated traffic offence about 2pm on Sunday, October 10.

Checks revealed the man had been turned around after he tried to cross into Queensland at Dalcouth near Stanthorpe on Saturday.

“He revealed he had slept in an unknown paddock near the border overnight and became lost travelling through fences and a gate eventually made his way back to the road,” Insp Wheeler said.

“Numerous scratches on his vehicle indicate he may have driven through a fence.”

Police arrested the man and issued him with a $4135 fine for breaching the border without a valid pass and a separate speeding fine.

He was also issued with a quarantine direction to enter into government approved quarantine.

Originally published as Sydney man hit with $4135 fine, ordered into quarantine