Easter weekend would usually be a busy period for holidaymakers and day-trippers. However, with COVID-19 travel restrictions and social distancing rules being in place, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has said that they will be stepping up enforcement of these rules over the Easter long weekend.
Patrols of the M1 will focus on stopping people from Logan, Brisbane and other parts of Queensland visiting the Gold Coast without a satisfactory reason.
While the weather has been great, and the roads a little emptier, it’s tempting for households to escape the house. However, past behaviour of people flocking to beaches has forced the Gold Coast to close some significant beaches and beachside car parks.
The use of number plate recognition technology will aide the QPS in identifying ‘out of towners’.
“We will generally know their address before we pull them over, we can make those checks as we conduct our operations, and we’ll certainly have a conversation with them,” Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said on Thursday.
“We want to communicate, we want to engage with members of the public, but we want to make it really clear that your traditional holiday Easter period break down the Gold Coast from Brisbane or other areas of the state is simply not on this weekend.”
Chief Superintendent Wheeler says people risk a $1334 fine if their travel is unnecessary.
“We’re doing this to keep the community safe; we’re doing this to stop the spread of COVID-19, we do it to enforce the direction from the Chief Health Officer.
To the dismay of many users and automotive media online, going for a drive is not a valid form of essential travel.
Limiting the spread of COVID-19 is essential and early signs show that social distancing has assisted in slowing the spread of the disease here in Australia.
For the moment, we’ll do our best to keep bringing you vehicle reviews, but if you’re not getting groceries, travelling to work or any other approved reasons, please don’t get in the car this weekend.
