Mornington Peninsula locals fined for driving to exercise won’t have to pay after snap rule review
The Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has told Melburnians they can drive to exercise, as long as they stay within 5km from home. But will fines issued before the change stand up?
South East
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Hours after police warned Mornington Peninsula walkers not to drive to their favourite exercise spots, the rule has been changed.
The about face happened amid confusion from locals who told police they weren’t aware of the restriction.
Mornington Constable Oscar Stevenson told Leader on Wednesday morning that car parks in Mornington and Mt Martha were full of people unaware that driving to a park or reserve to exercise was banned under the 5km from home rules.
Constable Stevenson said police had issued countless warnings at car parks and a handful of fines.
He said the approach had been lenient to begin with because many people appeared confused about the restrictions.
“If people continue to break the rules the number of fines will increase,” he said.
People driving their dogs to off leash parks and dog beaches was a particular problem, Constable Stevenson said.
But by 5pm tonight new advice had been issued by the Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
“We are aware that people have talked about that as an unreasonable constraint,” Prof Sutton said.
“I don’t want anyone to feel unsafe getting to a place of exercise.”
The Department of Health and Human Services website will now be updated to clarify that driving within 5km of your home is allowed if it is for this purpose.
Victorians who have previously been fined for this breach will be able to request a review with Victoria Police and apply for the charge to be waived.
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