‘RBT-style’ police op on Gold Coast to nab drivers flouting Covid-19 lockdown
Police have pulled over hundreds of cars at sites around the Gold Coast in a bid to catch people flouting lockdown rules. FULL DETAILS >>>
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THE Gold Coast can expect to see more roadside checks across the city after hundreds of people were intercepted by police during its new operation to stop Covid-19 entering the city.
Queensland Police launched the checks on Wednesday morning to prevent people from outside the allowed 10 kilometre radius from their home entering the Gold Coast.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said a total of 786 vehicles were intercepted from 5am to 11am on Wednesday across the Gold Coast and no one was required to be turned around.
“I’d like to thank the Gold Coast community,” he said.
“The majority of drivers were well prepared. They had evidence of their own work or compliance activities they were trying to achieve.
“When officers spoke to them they had that information ready to go, which made it a seamless process.
“Our messaging is clear. If you don’t have a reason to be out and about and if you do not have a reason or exemption to come into the Gold Coast, please don’t.
“It’s just not worth it.”
Police officers had a site set up on the Gold Coast Highway in Surfers Paradise and automatic number plate recognition technology and random intercepts of vehicles were used on the M1.
Supt Wildman said the Gold Coast can expect to see more vehicle interception check points in the coming days.
Motorists at the Surfers Paradise checkpoint were made to line up and present identification showing their residential addresses.
Supt Wildman said 518 vehicles were intercepted and two drivers received notices to appear in court for non-Covid related breaches.
Another driver fled the Surfers Paradise checkpoint and Supt Wildman said police know who the 27-year-old Coolangatta man is and he should turn himself in for reasons not related to Covid-19 breaches.
While roads have been fairly busy since lockdown began Sunday afternoon, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was pleased with a lack of traffic on Wednesday.
“This is what it looks like when we all work together,” she wrote on Twitter, posting various images of roads nearly deserted.
POLICE WARNING: ‘EXPECT TO GET TURNED AROUND’
Police on Tuesday announced plans to stop people travelling from Brisbane to the Gold Coast as the Covid-19 outbreak continues to escalate.
Officers said they would roll out “static operations” along major roadways to the Coast to intercept drivers breaking lockdown rules.
Under regulations in force until 4pm on Sunday, residents of 11 southeast Queensland Local Government Areas are not permitted to travel more than 10km from their homes unless classed as essential workers or otherwise granted an exemption.
“They will be a RBT style vehicle stops without the breath testing, so we can speak to individuals about why they are travelling to the Gold Coast,” Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said.
“If you’re travelling into the Gold Coast and you are outside the (health) direction, expect to get turned around.”
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Police also revealed that two people and a business on the Gold Coast were fined for breaching Covid regulations on Monday.
Supt Wildman said one person was fined for a gathering at Biggera Waters and another person in Southport was fined for not complying to the stay at home direction.
They were both fined $1378.
The Biggera Waters incident involved four people, with the host of the address inviting three others to their unit.
The host received the fine and Supt Wildman said police are still making inquiries into the other three people.
Police also visited 29 businesses on Monday, with one receiving a $6892 fine for continuing to operate.
Supt Wildman said it was a Helensvale tattoo parlour.
A Helensvale gym was also visited and was warned to stop operation or receive a similar fine.
“I cannot state the importance of where we are at this present time,” Supt Wildman said.
“We have to make sure as individuals we all work together and comply with the direction.
“Dr Jeannette Young made it quite clear, regardless of the exceptions, we all need to stay at home.
“We are on the verge of getting on top of this particular outbreak.”
Supt Wildman urged businesses to reassess if they’re essential with close contact work such as hairdressing now deemed non-essential.
He said the Gold Coast needs to adjust to stricter regulations this lockdown with changes such as non-commercial boating no longer permitted for residents.
He said the Gold Coast is currently under “point in time” restrictions and they have been made stricter to handle the highly infectious Delta strain.
“The reasoning behind any changes or nuances in directions is very much around the personal circumstances,” he said.
Police intercepted 46 vehicles at the border overnight on Monday with 32 of those heavy vehicles.
On the M1, 83 vehicles were intercepted by police, with 22 turned around.
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