Coronavirus Victoria: Dobbers and criminals behind record virus fines

Police have revealed why Victoria recorded thousands more fines related to breaches of coronavirus directions than any other state.

Sarah McPhee

2 min read

May 28, 2020 - 12:54PM

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More than four times the number of fines related to breaches of coronavirus-related restrictions have been issued in Victoria, compared to New South Wales.

The state has handed out 5957 COVID-19 fines totalling more than $8 million, while 1290 have been issued in NSW and 2069 in Queensland.

“It’s certainly a lot of fines, no doubt about that,” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told 3AW today.

Since late March in Victoria, individuals have faced fines of $1652 and businesses $9913 for failing to adhere to the chief health officer’s directives “designed to slow the spread of COVID-19”.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton.

Mr Ashton said there were two main reasons behind the plethora of penalties – dobbers and alleged criminals.

“Most of those fines occurred during Easter and that was a period when people were really nervous about what was going on in the community and the Police Assistance Line was flooded with thousands of calls,” he said.

“Certainly I don’t know about the interstate experience in relation to how nervous the community were but certainly we got a lot of calls through.”

NOW | Police chief Graham Ashton discussing the huge amount of restriction fines in Vic.

"Most of the fines appeared during Easter + that was a period when people were really nervous about what was going on in the community" he said.

"So the police assistance line was flooded."
— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) May 27, 2020

Those caught committing non-coronavirus offences copped a doubly whammy by also being fined for a breach.

Mr Ashton said alleged criminals accounted “for a lot of these fines”.

“Some people say we are not doing enough, other people say we are doing too many,” he said.

“I think the fines have been valid.”

Examples of breaches that resulted in fines include parties, groups at the Twelve Apostles, gatherings in fast food carparks, people from different households travelling in one vehicle with no reason to be out, a massage premises staying open, and those allegedly committing criminal, driving and drug-related offences.

Victoria Police Protective Services Officers in St Kilda in April. Picture: Scott Barbour/AAP

Mr Ashton told a committee last week that 337 of 5604 coronavirus-related fines issued up to May 17 had been withdrawn or cancelled after review.

Earlier this week, police said an administrative error was behind a 17-year-old Victorian learner driver being sent a fine that was meant to be waived.

Hunter Reynolds was stopped while on a driving lesson with her mum in April and issued a $1652 on-the-spot fine for what was considered non-essential travel. They had been travelling 30km from Hampton to Frankston.

For those asking - yes - weâ€™ve seen a copy of the actual infringement notice handed yesterday to a 17yo L Plater having a training drive with mum in the rain yesterday. pic.twitter.com/VjZTkNJVni
— Heidi Murphy (@heidimur) April 6, 2020

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton later said the infringement would be withdrawn.

But the teenager still received a reminder to pay the fine, along with a late fee.

“We received the fine again the other day in the mail and it has increased I guess because it hasn’t been paid yet, so no it hasn’t been withdrawn,” her mother Sharee Reynolds told 3AW on Monday.

Hunter, 17, and her mother Sharee Reynolds. Picture: Tony Gough

Her father Shane Reynolds told the Herald Sun they felt “horrible” when their daughter opened the letter given “she’d been told it was all done and dusted”.

“I just want it fixed for her,” he said.

“She has obeyed the rules 100 per cent during the pandemic, she hasn’t seen a single friend during the lockdown, she’s only been out of the house to go to work.”

Victoria Police confirmed the fine had been repealed.

“This should not have happened and the issue has now been resolved,” it said.

As of Wednesday, there had been 1618 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Victoria and 1539 of those patients had recovered.

Eight people remained in hospital including three in intensive care. The state has recorded 19 deaths.

Restrictions in Victoria will ease at 11.59pm on Sunday allowing gatherings of 20 people in a home, outside or in a public space and travel to holiday homes, tourist accommodation, caravan parks and camping.

Under new directions you can attend a gathering in public of up to 20 people.

Learn more about the most recent #COVID19 updates in Victoria, including advice on public space and staying safe: https://t.co/CTpfySoZ6r #COVID19Vic
https://t.co/G8Szqvuk6i pic.twitter.com/KD4YOB9j6N
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) May 27, 2020