Melbourne restrictions: Somerville boys, 14, fined $1652 for bike ride
A decision to fine seven teens riding their bikes during lockdown has outraged Somerville locals. Here’s why.
South East
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A group of seven Somerville teenagers has been fined for breaching COVID restrictions by holding a “mass gathering” but furious parents say they were simply riding their bikes.
At least three of the parents have vowed to fight the penalty.
The 14 and 15 year old boys were spoken to by police while riding their bikes near Frankston-Flinders Rd on the Stony Point line easmenet at 5.45pm on October 18.
They were each later issued with $1652 fines.
One of the fines, which has been seen by Leader, states that the boys’ actions were a “blatant and obvious” breach of the stay at home restrictions.
The mother of one of the fined boys, Shellie Fellows, called for compassion and said the boys were wearing masks and social distancing.
She said the boys were not all known to one another and had not intended to meet up as a group.
“My son went on his own, and when he got there found two other kids he knew,” she said.
“They don’t deny hanging out together riding their bikes, but they bloody needed it for their sanity.
“Now they and their parents have to deal with the added mental and financial stress of a $1652 fine.”
Ms Fellows said the teens had endured months of lockdown with no school or community sport and their mental and physical health had suffered.
She said the group of seven was only two greater than the restrictions in place at the time allowed.
“Parks were open … as many kids could gather there as they liked.
“Perhaps if they were hanging at the local playground instead it would have been OK.”
The Somerville community has rallied behind the boys and a social media post about the incident attracted 166 comments, with all but two all supporting the teens.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone feels that these fines were unnecessary, Ms Fellows said.
Victoria Police would not comment on specific incidents relating to breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
But in a written statement the authority confirmed than people under the age of 18 could be fined for failing to comply with the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
“This is in line with other enforcement efforts across Victoria Police, and is not unique to fines that relate to CHO breaches. It is Victoria Police policy that infringement notices, regardless of what they are for, are not issued to anyone under 14 years of age.”
Victoria Police confirmed that anyone who had received a fine had 90 days to request a review and if not happy with the result could ask for the matter to be determined in court.
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