Early on Sunday morning, a Canberra woman who was under home quarantine restrictions due to being COVID-19 positive was charged with drink driving.
Two passengers in the vehicle with her were subsequently ordered into home quarantine due to their close contact with the woman. In addition to the drink driving charges, the COVID-19 positive woman was issued an infringement for breaching ACT health directions.
It is one of the more egregious instances of recalcitrant Canberrans breaching lockdown restrictions, with ACT Policing completing 36 arrests, 56 infringements, and 98 cautions for alleged breaches of health directions, in addition to 710 move on orders this lockdown, between 12 August and 20 September.
In addition, some 4,174 personal compliance checks and 1,419 business compliance checks have been completed, and 1,560 compliance complaints have been received this lockdown.
On Thursday and Friday last week, ACT Road Policing led high visibility border compliance activities, checking more than 7,400 vehicles and turning around more than 40 drivers.
The two main issues identified at the border were freight drivers who did not have proper COVID-negative test documentation and local district drivers who did not have the appropriate exemption documents.
A total of 26,626 traffic compliance stops have been completed during this lockdown, with 277 directions to leave the ACT.
On Sunday, officers conducted a compliance operation along the western fringes of Canberra. Approximately 250 vehicles at the Cotter and Uriarra were turned around as these locations were closed to the public for exercise or recreation.
Many people admitted they had not checked on the status of the parks and reserves, and assumed they could still visit these places.
“The general rules have not changed. You must not leave home unless it is for an essential reason. You must continue to wear a mask where required to do so,” Detective Superintendent Naomi Binstead from ACT Policing’s COVID-19 taskforce said.
Although people in Canberra are permitted to leave their homes for two hours of outdoor exercise per day, they are requested “to stay in [their] region” wherever possible. Picnics are allowed, outdoor playgrounds are open, but public barbecue facilities are off limits.
Detective Superintendent Binstead said now is “not the time to become complacent”.
“We understand people are keen to get back to normal but we must keep to the important health directions, for everyone’s safety,” she said.
As the lockdown period continues and slight changes to public health directions occur, people are asked to check the ACT Government’s COVID-19 website for current restrictions.
ACT Chief Police Officer (CPO) Neil Gaughan said yesterday from “Thursday or Friday” this week, Australian Defence Force (ADF) resources will help ACT Policing monitor the border for the first time.
CPO Gaughan said the three main functions of the ADF support will be to assist with the marshalling of vehicles, initial triaging and compliance checks, and provide assistance to the general public with respect to interpreting the public health directions.
Training to refine processes between ACT Policing and the ADF will be conducted prior to deployment.
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
For more police news:
