Two off-duty police officers fined for breaching social distancing laws
Two off-duty NSW Police officers have been fined $1000 for breaching social distancing measures in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
One woman, a 27-year-old senior constable, was found by police being helped by a 31-year-old man on King Street in Sydney’s CBD on Saturday about 8.30pm.
NSW Police said she was intoxicated and taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment. She was released on Sunday about 2am.
She was questioned and police determined she had been at a party.
Also at the party was a 27-year-old senior constable from Fairfield City Police Area Command.
Three other people who aren’t members of the police, including the 31-year-old man, were also found to have attended the party.
All five were fined $1000 each for breaching the Public Health Act 2010.
Last month, NSW Police were granted new powers to give on the spot fines to anyone contravening the the orders under the act.
Anyone found not going into isolation for 14 days after returning from overseas, not quarantining after being found to have COVID-19, being involved in a mass social gathering or contravening any other restriction could be hit with a $1000 on the spot fine.
Businesses face being slapped with a $5000 fine for violating the rules.
NSW Police said in a statement this is already on top of officers being able to issue court attendance notices which carry a maximum $11,000 fine or six months in jail.
On Sunday, police issued 15 “COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices”.
The sixteen reasons NSW residents can leave their homes
The NSW Government has also released a list of 16 acceptable reasons to leave the house.
Some of the reasons include if you’re donating blood, trying to escape harm or leaving the house allows you to fulfil legal obligations.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it’s crucial residents maintain “that level of control and containment as much as possible”.
“We want to see fewer people have to go to hospital. We want to see fewer people die,” she said.
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