Two women, among the 59 fined on Tuesday for breaching Public Health Orders, were caught more than 200 kilometres from their homes in locked down areas.
Police spoke to a 26-year-old woman in the car park of a hotel on Tomaree Street, Nelson Bay, at around midday.
They found the woman was a Sydney CBD resident who had travelled to the Port Stephens region to visit a friend.
She was fined $1000 and told to immediately return to Sydney.
Later, officers stopped a vehicle on Torrens Avenue at the Entrance on the Central Coast because it was displaying Queensland number plates.
A licence check revealed the woman lived in the Illawarra region.
When asked why she was in the area, she told police she was aware of the public health order but was on holiday.
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.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said now is not the time for people in locked down areas to be travelling around the state.
“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 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 yesterday and of those, 43 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue 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.
