Man crossing Melbourne to go fishing among 127 fined
A man who said he was travelling across Melbourne to go fishing was one of 127 people fined on Saturday for flouting coronavirus restrictions, as Premier Daniel Andrews warned that the chance of being caught has never been greater.
A driver stopped by police in Langwarrin said he was travelling from Keilor Downs, in the city's north-west, to a spot on the Mornington Peninsula, south-east of Melbourne, to go fishing. He was fined $1652 for breaching restrictions.
ADF personnel and Victoria Police at a checkpoint on the Princes Freeway on the outskirts of Melbourne last week. Credit:Luis Ascui
Fines were also issued to nine adults after 30 people were found at a party at a home in Kyabram, in the state's north, and to five people caught gathering in a public place in Dandenong.
Nineteen of the 127 fines issued were at vehicle checkpoints. In total, police issued over $209,800 worth of fines on Saturday.
On Sunday, Mr Andrews said some Victorians were still not getting the message.
"We have seen a bit of reporting over the last couple of days about some terrible examples of people just doing their own thing and not necessarily having any regard at all for the health of others," he said.
"They will be fined. That sort of behaviour is not on and that's why there are police out there in force. They're not mucking about, they will fine you.
"It's the wrong thing to do, and it's just not a very smart thing to do because your odds of getting caught have never been worse from your point of view. You will be caught and you will be fined."
From Thursday, police will also enforce the mandatory use of masks within greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, issuing $200 fines to those not wearing some kind of face covering when practicable.
Mr Andrews said he hoped that "not one single fine needs to be issued".
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews wears a face mask as he walks into the daily government briefing on Sunday.Credit:Darrian Traynor
"I don't want to see even one single fine when it comes to wearing masks. It is something that we can do. It is something that makes a big difference.
"It's not like police will be pulling over every single vehicle or every single person to check you're wearing a mask. But err on the side of caution ... Don't take the time to try to find loopholes. That doesn't do anybody any good."
On Saturday, police checked 16,262 vehicles at checkpoints on main arterial roads, and conducted 4661 spot checks on people at homes, businesses and public places across the state.
A total of 127,375 spot checks have been conducted since March 21.
Police in South Australia were searching on Sunday for three people they said travelled from Victoria across the border by claiming one of the trio needed urgent medical attention. The group failed to turn up at a nominated medical centre.
Police are searching for a Victorian registered car and three occupants after they allegedly breached a COVID-19 direction on Saturday night.Credit:South Australia Police.
Two men and a woman in a blue 2004 Holden Rodeo ute with the registration 1IB-4CT crossed the border at the Yamba checkpoint, roughly 160 kilometres west of Mildura, about 5pm on Saturday.