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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National

Woman fined for driving from Sydney CBD to Nelson Bay

Three people among the 59 fined on Tuesday for breaching COVID-19 Public Health Orders had travelled substantial distances from locked-down areas - one of them to Port Stephens.

Police said officers spoke with a 26-year-old woman in the carpark of a hotel in Tomaree Street at Nelson Bay about midday.

They found that the woman was a resident of the Sydney CBD area who had travelled to the Port Stephens region to visit a friend.

Police fined the woman $1000 and told her to immediately return to Sydney.

Then, about 2pm on Tuesday, police stopped a vehicle on Torrens Avenue at the Entrance on the Central Coast because it was displaying Queensland number plates.

A check of the driver's licence revealed the woman lived in the Shellharbour area, in the Illawarra region.

She was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station, where she was fined $1000 and charged with an outstanding arrest warrant.

The woman was refused bail.

The State Emergency Operations Controller, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said it was not the time for people in locked-down areas to be travelling across the state.

LATEST NEWS ON COVID-19 IN NSW TODAY, JUNE 30

"Can I be clear about this, if you're from any area covered under the public health order, we don't want to see you away from your home without a valid reason," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.

"Going on holiday is not a valid reason.

"Police are also concerned at the number of PINs [Penalty Infringement Notices] we have issued for people not wearing masks on public transport. People need to know we will be out and about ensuring this is complied with.

"It is imperative that everyone continues to follow the Public Health Orders and does not become complacent."

In total, 59 PINs were issued on Tuesday. Of those, 43 were $200 fines for failing to wear a fitted face covering.

Police are continuing to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.

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