Police issue $500 fines for group choosing not to wear masks

Police were called to a Northern Rivers grocery store over the weekend after reports that a group of shoppers were breaching public health orders.

Police are enforcing mandatory mask etiquette and fined eight people on Sunday August 1, 2021 for not wearing masks and not having a lawful reason to be exempt un der the current Public Health Orders, while they were shopping at a Northern Rivers grocery store. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It seems that fines may be the only way encourage people to wear a mask and help keep the community safe when it comes to shopping, as eight people discovered on Sunday.

On Sunday, police officers issued eight people a $500 fine each while at a retail space on the Northern Rivers.

“About 3pm yesterday, officers from Tweed/Byron Police District attended a grocery store on Station St, Mullumbimby, following reports some shoppers weren’t wearing masks,” a police spokesperson said.

“Police spoke with four men and four women who were not wearing a mask at the location.

“They were unable to provide a lawful reason under the Public Health Order for not wearing a mask and were each fined $500.”

According to police, there have been three infringements issued within the Richmond Police District and 31 within the Tweed/Byron Police District since July 13, 2021.

These infringements include a range of breaches, including fail to comply with noticed direction regarding Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Covid-19 Public Health Order and not wear fitted face covering, among other breaches.