Northern Region Police Commander Peter McKenna says a ring of compliance will be enforced around regional areas that are COVID-free, and no "lame" excuse from anyone trying to breach the barrier will wash with officers.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna, who oversees an area extending from Gosford to Tweed Heads and inland to Merriwa in the Upper Hunter, said anyone tempted to flout the rules and head to COVID-free areas should think again.
"We're working hand in glove with the traffic and highway patrol command," he said.
"We are patrolling all those areas and caravan parks and places where we believe travellers would like to congregate or come in from."
He said there had been a case in recent weeks where a woman from Port Stephens travelled to a Sydney red zone and back, after helping a friend to move house.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said that excuse did not pass the "pub test" when she conveyed her story to officers.
"People cannot come up with lame excuses to say they didn't know or they were not aware.
"This is too important for us to not get this right and so we will enforce the law."
Fines for home religious service
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said it was not just on the roads where police were on alert.
Acting on a tip-of, officers went to Seahampton, west of Newcastle, on Sunday, where a religious service was being held in a private home.
Officers reported that between 25 and 30 people were allegedly at the home and not wearing masks.
Nine members of the group were issued with $1,000 fines for breaching COVID restrictions.
He said officers made no apologies for issuing beach notices.
"It is just about all of society chipping in and doing the right thing, Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.
Under current public health order rules in New South Wales, up to five people may visit another household at any one time.
The total number of visitors includes adults and children.
A member of the hosting household is not counted as a visitor.
Pastor Charlie Haddad, who ran the service and gave a sermon, was one of the nine people fined.
He told the ABC he disputed the police estimate of the number of attendees and defended his congregation.
The pastor said some people were not wearing a mask, due to medical conditions.
He said he would challenge his fine in court.
