COVID-19 orders: Why people are being slapped with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) across Hunter
A man tucking into a kebab, a woman mooning light rail to an illegal street racing meet - there’s been no shortage of people ignoring public health orders amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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From a man sitting down eating a kebab, parties, a woman mooning light rail and a catch up with relatives, there’s been no shortage of people across the Hunter deciding to ignore public health orders amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
These people and many more have been slapped with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) as police continue their crackdown against people flouting the law and not staying at home.
So if you’re thinking of venturing out, you might want to think twice.
Here’s a rundown of what people across the Hunter are being fined for.
April 18
*A late night party at Merewether found three people out of pocket.
Six people were found by police at the Nott Street residence and ordered to leave.
A man, 40, allegedly refused and yelled at police. He eventually complied but was slugged $1000, together with a 49-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman.
April 16
*A Clarence Town man who had previously been warned to go home was again found out with another man in Newcastle West.
After he refused to provide details to police, he copped a $1000 PIN.
He was also arrested and charged with using offensive language and breach of bail.
April 15
*A 42-year-old man was given a $1000 fine at Gateway Boulevard, Morisset after being issued multiple warnings and had no reasonable excuse for being out.
He was warned twice for being out at different locations on the Central Coast the day prior.
April 14
*A 24-year-old man spotted at Broadmeadow Railway Station earned a $1000 fine after telling police “he had to get out as he was sick of being at home”.
April 12
*Two men, aged 40 and 47, out and about in their car at Raymond Terrace decided not to listen to a police warning them to go home.
It was just a short time later they were again caught driving around and slapped with fines.
April 13
*It was an expensive fishing trip for two Sydneysiders who travelled to Lake Macquarie.
A 72-year-old man and 46-year-old woman were stopped by police at Dora Creek, before being told fishing was not a valid reason to travel to a regional area.
Despite being told to move on, the pair were caught out 15 minutes later on Rocky Point Rd, Eraring.
April 11
This was a busy Saturday for police across the Hunter.
*An illegal street racing ‘meet’, which saw up to 40 vehicles gathered at Stockrington Conservation Area in Haul Rd, netted $19,000 of fines in one go.
A total of 19 people were issued fines of $1000 each, while a number of others escaped into surrounding bushland when police arrived. A total of 13 were also fined for being in the conservation area unlawfully.
*A man who allegedly stole pavers at a commercial property on Freemans Drive, Cooranbong, not only got charged for numerous vehicle and traffic offences, trespassing and custody of a knife in a public place, but also copped a $1000 fine.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court in June.
*A 24-year-old man in Broadmeadow couldn’t provide a lawful excuse to police why he was travelling between Newcastle and Nelson Bay. That earned him a $1000 fine.
*A 47-year-old woman was fined $5000 for not just mooning the light rail on Hunter Street in Newcastle but for also spitting on a female paramedic on two occasions.
*Smoking cannabis in a carpark at Thornton was not an excuse for being out and about. Two men, aged 19 and 25, each issued a $1000 PIN.
They were given a cannabis cautions, while the younger man also issued an infringement for custody of a knife.
*A walk with friends turned expensive for an 18-year-old man at Bonnells Bay.
He was stopped by police as he walked along Grenache Street with three friends. A previous warning meant he was immediately slapped with a $1000 fine.
April 10
*A Sydney man wasn’t too happy when police told him to return home while he was out fishing at Eraring.
While 30 other anglers packed up and went on their way, the 34-year-old insisted he would keep casting a line. That earned him a $1000 fine.
*Acting suspiciously on Hugh street, Merewether, a 40-year-old woman couldn’t give police a reason for why she was out and about. She was issued a $1000 PIN.
*A casual drink with rellies ended in a fine for a 24-year-old man who was caught drinking at a relative’s house in Toronto late on Friday night.
April 9
*Police fined a 36-year-old motorcyclist at Gateshead, who provided multiple conflicting reasons for not being at home. He said he was on his way to help a friend fix a bike, but that was considered non-essential.
*A 33-year-old woman who crashed into a traffic light at Glendale before allegedly taking her three-year-old child out of the car and running from the scene also copped a hefty fine alongside serious driving charges.
*Hanging out in the carpark near the boat ramp at Styles Point Reserve in Rathmines was not a good idea for a 40-year-old man and 54-year-old woman.
They provided differing versions as to why they were there and both issued with $1000 PINs.
April 7
*A social gathering at Edgeworth ended up being expensive for two people.
Two men, aged 25 and 21, were each issued with a $1000 PIN.
*A 27-year-old man had been given two warnings by police previously before being caught again as a passenger in a vehicle stopped at New Lambton.
The woman driver was given a warning and told to go home but the man copped a $1000 fine.
April 6
*A man allegedly trying to break into a church at Toronto was not only charged but given a $1000 fine.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court in June.
April 5
*A man charged with allegedly breaching an AVO in East Maitland also ended up $1000 out of pocket.
April 1
*Cardiff massage parlour, Asian Remedial Massage, became one of the first businesses in NSW to be fined $5000 for flouting COVID-19 laws after it allegedly continued to operate despite the lockdowns.
After allegedly seeing several people enter the Harrison St premises, officers walked in to find two customers and staff inside.
The operator, a 57-year-old woman, was issued a $5000 PIN for failing to comply.
*A couple was not safe sitting in their car at Muswellbrook.
Police found neither the 32-year-old woman or the 27-year-old man had a reasonable excuse not to be at home and were given a $1000 fine each.
*Eating a kebab on a bench at Newcastle proved costly for a 21-year-old man who ignored two warnings from police to move on. Third time was a charm when police fined him.
March 26
A 65-year-old Redhead woman arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Bali on March 21 and advised she was required to quarantine for a 14-day period.
Two days later police received information she was out and about. She was warned.
But again a few days later she ventured out, and for that received a $1000 fine for failing to stay at home.
Assistant Commissioner and Northern Region Commander Max Mitchell APM said the vast majority of the community had been abiding by the public health orders which was encouraging to see.
“Officers at all four Hunter police districts are continuing to be visible out in the community, educating the public about what the rules are, and using their discretion to work with the ommunity,” he said.
“To all our Hunter residents - keep up the good work. This is an ongoing fight to slow the spread of COVID-19 and we are all working alongside one another in our daily lives to make things as easy as possible.
“As of today, anyone who coughs or spits on any worker assisting the public during this COVID-19 crisis will face a $5000 on-the-spot fine - this has been extended to all workers, not just health care staff and police.
“This is a very strong and clear message - we want and need to protect our essential workers, they're the ones who are keeping our society functioning.”
PINs carry on-the-spot fines of $1000 for individuals and $5000 for businesses.
It’s in addition to the existing enforcement powers available to officers, which include issuing Court Attendance Notices with a maximum penalty of up to $11,000 and/or six months imprisonment for individuals.