Coronavirus: Police issue $78k in fines at Rochedale car rally
Queensland police have issued 58 COVID-19 infringement notices at a Brisbane car rally, in a dramatic escalation of enforcement.
Queensland police have issued 58 COVID-19 infringement notices at a Brisbane car rally, in a dramatic escalation of enforcement.
The fines – worth a combined $77,372 – were issued to drivers and passengers aged between 17 and 30 who gathered at Rochedale in the city’s south on Saturday night.
Police body worn camera footage shows officers approaching people in their cars and asking if they are aware of restrictions on movement due to the coronavirus crisis.
Each person was issued with a $1334 fine for failing to comply with a COVID-19 direction issued by the Chief Health Officer.
“Are you aware of the home confinement rules in relation to the coronavirus,” one officer asks.
“As of Friday morning a person must not leave their place of residence except for obtaining food, getting medical treatment, doing physical exercise, going to work, visiting a terminally-ill relative, providing care to an immediate family member, attending court, going to an educational institution.”
When one person agrees they basically thought they were going to a car show, an officer replies: “I don’t think that’s in the list of thing to do for COVID-19.”
Another officer says: “Unfortunately I’m going to have to issue you all a fine tonight. So it’s a $1300 fine per person.”
Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski, the State Disaster Coordinator, said blatant disregard for the new regime put lives at risk.
“This is all about safety. About saving lives. About stopping the spread of COVID-19. We all, every single one of us, must do our bit. We are in this together.
“It is inexcusable what happened at Rochedale last night and such blatant disregard for the lives of Queenslanders will not be tolerated.
“Largely Queenslanders have made significant adjustments to their lifestyle in order to comply with these health directives, to help protect their families, friends, neighbours and the broader community, and I thank them for that.”
He said an integral part of the police response to the pandemic was ensuring compliance with the chief health officer’s directions, particularly around self-isolation, mass gatherings, borders, non-essential business activity and private residence gatherings.
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