Three Illawarra teens have been issued $1000 penalties after ignoring police warnings to return to their homes, meaning four young males in the region have now been fined under the new police powers.
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About 10.15pm on Monday, officers attached to Wollongong Police District attended a unit on Carrington Street, Woonona, and spoke with four young people.
One of them lived at the address, but the remaining three did not and had received warnings earlier that day regarding their failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions," police said.
The three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, were issued with penalty infringement notices for failing to be home without a reasonable excuse.
Last week NSW police were given new powers under the NSW Public Health Act that allow them to issue fines of up to $11,000 and/or six months' jail for those outside their house without a good reason, or for breaking the social gathering restrictions.
The first fine in the Illawarra was issued to a 21-year-old man walking along Osborne Parade, Warilla about 3.40am on Monday claiming he was returning home after drinking with friends at the park.
Following further inquiries, police discovered he had been issued with a warning for the stay-at-home rule the previous day and was therefore issued an infringement notice for $1000 for failing to comply with health directions.
Since March 17, police have issued 11 Court Attendance Notices, and 136 PINs for breaches of the Public Health Act.
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