Border hoppers issued $1334 fines

Police have issued two people with eye-watering fines after vehicles were spotted evading border roadblocks.

TWO people have been hit with large fines after they illegally crossed the Queensland border by driving around roadblocks as the battle to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues.

The two men were both issued $1334 fines for breaching the chief health officer’s direction following police investigations into the illegal crossings in the past couple of days.

The Bulletin was on hand to catch the two alleged offenders red-handed as they mounted kerbs and drove around the roadblocks to enter the state.

A NSW motorist drives around the barriers into Queensland at Ducat St, Kirra to avoid the Queensland Police road blocks due to the coronavirus shutdown. Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp.

People from outside of Queensland are completely barred from entering the state without an essential reason – like work or medical appointments.

Checkpoints to enter Queensland are in place on the Gold Coast Highway, the M1 and the intersection of Griffith and Stewart streets at Coolangatta. The other 14 entrances to Queensland have roadblocks put in place.

It’s understood police are this morning bolstering the crossings at Ducat St, with a solid concrete barrier put in place to stop the illegal border hoppers.

A 61-year-old taxi driver from Tugun and a 41-year-old security guard from northern New South Wales have both been issued an infringement notice for contravening the chief health officer direction, after separate incidents.

A taxi crossing the NSW border by driving around the barriers at Kirra on the Gold Coast. Picture: Gold Coast Bulletin.

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Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said those crossing the border illegally will be caught.

“The message is clear, police will continue to enforce blatant breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directions,” Supt Wheeler said.

“These directions are in place to keep the community safe.”

It’s understood more fines are expected to be handed out in the coming days for similar offences.