With school holidays starting today, ACT Policing is reminding Canberrans that lockdown rules still apply and travel across the NSW border remains heavily restricted.
ACT Policing and the NSW Police Force continue to work together to check that people crossing the border are complying with COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
Yesterday, officers focused efforts at four major border crossing points between NSW and the ACT and will continue joint operations during the school holidays.
On the first day of the operation, 4,301 vehicles were stopped and 12 were turned around at checkpoints on the Federal Highway, Canberra Avenue, Lanyon Drive and Monaro Highway.
ACT Road Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Donna Hofmeier said the cross-border joint operations were important.
“Since the ACT COVID-19 lockdown started, ACT Policing has now made well in excess of 20,000 vehicle compliance checks, and we’ve stepped up the pace with this operation,” Detective Acting Superintendent Hofmeier said.
“There are health directions which restrict the movement of people across the border, and with the school holidays starting everyone must remember that the lockdown rules still apply.
“Canberra residents can’t host visitors from NSW, and Canberrans can’t go for a holiday in NSW, so we’re working with our colleagues from NSW to cover traffic in both directions.”
Monaro Police District Commander, Superintendent John Klepczarek said the joint operation between NSW Police Force and ACT Policing underscored the importance of people only making essential movements across the border.
“NSW Police will be enforcing the Public Health Orders and ensuring that anyone leaving the ACT is compliant with those orders,” Superintendent Klepczarek said.
“We will be looking for exemptions and border declaration passes that permit travel between the two jurisdictions.
“For anyone caught breaching travel rules, NSW Police will be taking action under Operation Stay At Home – which includes hefty fines – or you will be turned around back to the ACT.”
For the most recent information on NSW’s COVID-19 restrictions, visit the NSW COVID-19 site.
The most up-to-date COVID-19 information for the ACT can be found at the ACT COVID-19 website.
To make reports of non-compliance, you can complete a form via Access Canberra or contact the COVID-19 Helpline on 6207 7244 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week).
For police assistance call 131 444 and only contact Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.
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