From going clubbing to breaching quarantine three times, here are the NT’s biggest Covidiots

TERRITORIANS have mostly complied with coronavirus restrictions — but there are a few who have been all too willing to flout the rules designed to keep us all safe. SEE our LIST of the NT’s biggest Covidiots HERE.

TERRITORIANS have mostly complied with coronavirus restrictions throughout the pandemic — but there are a few who have been all too willing to flout the rules designed to keep us all safe. Here are some of the NT’s biggest Covidiots to be nabbed by police in the past few months.

I got nothin’

In mid-July a 20-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man from Western Australia were fined $1106 each after being spotted by a compliance team at a shopping centre two days after their arrival.

When spoken to by police, they were unable to provide a lawful reason for breaching their quarantine.

Keeping the tax man at bay

A man who left his place of quarantine to get his taxes done was fined for breaking regulations.

In July, the 41-year-old man, who arrived by road from South Australia, initially travelled to a remote Central Australian community and was later transferred to Alice Springs where he was supposed to complete his quarantine in a hotel.

However, he was found away from his place of quarantine and told authorities he had left because he was getting his taxes done.

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Night on the town

A 27-year-old man was fined in July after he who breached his quarantine to go clubbing in Darwin.

The man was caught out when police contacted him after receiving a tip-off.

He admitted to breaching his quarantine and has been issued with a fine.

The man had attended the nightclub on June 27 but police at the time refused to say which club he attended or where he arrived in the Territory from.

Cruisin’ around

Two Melbourne visitors flouted their COVID-19 quarantine restrictions to take a Kakadu boat cruise.

The 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman travelled to the NT on June 19.

They were granted an exemption for work purposes, to collect a vehicle and then leave the NT, under the condition that while not at work they were subject to quarantine.

However, police were tipped off that the pair had gone on a cruise in the national park.

Police contacted the 47-year-old man, who had already left the NT, and told him he would receive an infringement notice in the mail but at the time were still trying to contact the woman.

Clearing my head

In mid-July, a 28-year-old man who was supposed to be completing quarantine in Darwin was found missing during a compliance check.

He returned when contacted by the compliance team and told them he had gone for a walk because he had a headache.

He was apologetic and admitted he had done the wrong thing.

Social media sensation

A woman found missing from her place of quarantine was later nabbed after being spotted on social media.

The 22-year-old woman from Alice Springs, who arrived in the Territory on June 27, was found absent from her accommodation for a number of days.

She was identified on social media to be attending a licensed premise in Alice Springs.

Police were able to track her down and issue her with a fine.

Out of excuses

Eight people were fined for leaving quarantine between June 29 and 30, with none able to provide a reasonable excuse for breaking the rules.

Aged between 21 and 42, they were contacted by police and were unable to provide a lawful justification as to why they were not quarantining.

They were fined $1099 each.

Third time’s the charm

A 25-year-old man in Driver, who arrived in the Territory on June 24, was hit with his third fine after he was found to be absent from his residence for a third time during compliance checks.

Police were unable to find him for a number of days.

When they did, he told police he had been in Adelaide River for a funeral.

The line is a little fuzzy

A compliance team conducted a check in Howard Springs on a 37-year-old man who had previously been cautioned for leaving his home.

Upon arrival, the man was found to be away from his residence.

Police attempted to contact the man but he continued to hang up on them.

The compliance team left and returned later to speak with the man, who stated he would contest the fine in court.

Police also found the man’s driver’s licence was suspended.

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Do you want a coffee?

A 40-year-old man who arrived in the Territory on July 1 was identified by a compliance team at a cafe in Katherine.

The man advised he was out doing errands and wanted a coffee.

The compliance team reminded him of his quarantine rules and he was issued a fine.

But I don’t wanna!

On July 17 Territory police handed out their first $5056 quarantine fine to a man who “didn’t want to” stay in his hotel room.

The 25-year-old man was in quarantine when he was reported missing from the hotel.

When found and when questioned he told officers he “didn’t want to stay in four walls”.

Early bird catches the worm

A man who was on his final day of mandatory quarantine was fined $5056 for leaving early.

The 20-year-old was in quarantine at Howard Springs when he was caught by police and facility staff attempting to leave early about 10.30am on August 9.

He was later released after completing the mandatory isolation period.

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