Queensland police now have the option to issue on the spot fines for breaches of Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions to support community efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
An integral part of the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) response is to ensure compliance with directions particularly around self-isolation, mass gathering, borders, non-essential business activity and now private residence gatherings.
From yesterday, officers now have the option of issuing infringement notices in appropriate circumstances.
Under the direction, homeowners or persons in control of a residence must not allow more than ten people to be present at the residence at any one time and to take reasonable steps to encourage occupants of and visitors to the residence to practise social distancing as much as possible.
This does not apply if more than ten people are present who ordinarily live at the residence.
During the implementation of this new compliance option officers will consider the circumstances and context of each incident and apply a decision-making model prior to issuing any notice.
If a person does not comply with quarantine directions, penalties of up to $13,345 for individuals and $66,672.50 for corporations may apply.
Officers can also issue on the spot fines of $1334.50 for individuals and $6,672.50 for corporations which fail to abide by the health directions.
Detectives from Taskforce Sierra Linnet have conducted seventy-one compliance visitations relating to self-quarantine notices with no breaches detected over the last two days. These compliance checks will continue around the clock to ensure members of the community abide by those notices.
The QPS would like to thank the community for their high compliance regarding the direction restricting the number of people within residences with no penalty infringement notices issued to date.
Police will continue to conduct compliance checks to ensure non-essential businesses are adhering to closure directions and social distancing. Over three thousand compliance visitations have occurred with non-essential businesses with no breaches detected.
The QPS will continue to provide front line services and engage with the community in a compassionate and professional way during these unprecedented times.
