Northern Territory police have fined four travellers a total of more than $20,000 after they allegedly drove into the NT without filling out the necessary paperwork.
Authorities say the four people in their 60s were picked up by automatic number plate recognition systems - which are currently being used to monitor border crossings - as they crossed from WA to the NT yesterday.
They were fined $5,056 each for allegedly failing to lodge border arrival forms.
Police say their two vehicles were registered in Victoria, but they had left before the state was declared a coronavirus hotspot.
The four people were also fined the day before by Police in Western Australia for failing to lodge the necessary paperwork before entering WA.
Let me state from the start that I think the border issues and lock downs are over kill and a sign that the authorities can't figure out a better solution.
HOWEVER the law is the law. Until that changes throw the book at those who flaunt it. No excuse.
I still can't understand how any government can give 12 or more hours notice that there will be a lock down. That's a sure signal for folks to hit the road and get out of the state asap.
Rather than a pile of different border rules. It would be better that if anyone leaves a lockdown zone anywhere in the country then there are fines or whatever which are uniform. Treat our 7.7m sq km as one piece of dirt, easy!
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Then you get the ones from Victoria that can't get out of the place quick enough and take the virus up the center of NSW and into Queensland. Just thinking of themselves, we're all right Jack, let's go, quick. No problem if they're not infected. But guess what. They are. I say fine them an amount that will send them back to Victoria with no money for this year's trip. The guy actually was at a shopping center of high concern before he left. Another case of one's just thinking of themselves.
Then you get the ones from Victoria that can't get out of the place quick enough and take the virus up the center of NSW and into Queensland. Just thinking of themselves, we're all right Jack, let's go, quick. No problem if they're not infected. But guess what. They are. I say fine them an amount that will send them back to Victoria with no money for this year's trip. The guy actually was at a shopping center of high concern before he left. Another case of one's just thinking of themselves.
The fine needs to be a large deterrent to others as well as appropriate punishment for them.
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Let me state from the start that I think the border issues and lock downs are over kill and a sign that the authorities can't figure out a better solution.
HOWEVER the law is the law. Until that changes throw the book at those who flaunt it. No excuse.
I still can't understand how any government can give 12 or more hours notice that there will be a lock down. That's a sure signal for folks to hit the road and get out of the state asap.
Well 2 weeks ago I got 12hrs notice to pack up & drive (tow van) from one end of the state to the other. (East to west) When I parked it , it was pissing rain, then unpack and add another 2 hrs to get home. We arrived home at 11.30pm. 24hrs would have been nice.
Then you get the ones from Victoria that can't get out of the place quick enough and take the virus up the center of NSW and into Queensland. Just thinking of themselves, we're all right Jack, let's go, quick. No problem if they're not infected. But guess what. They are. I say fine them an amount that will send them back to Victoria with no money for this year's trip. The guy actually was at a shopping center of high concern before he left. Another case of one's just thinking of themselves.
The fine needs to be a large deterrent to others as well as appropriate punishment for them.
Those two should not only be fined but should also have to pay for each and every Covid-19 test that was made in their path, including the wages of the staff doing the testing, the costs of any business that has to temporarily shut down because they attended it and any other cost that relates to their stupidity. That is a real deterant.
The Government can't just make up fines and penalties for an offence after it has been committed, The fines and penalties need to be in place prior to the commission of the offence. One wonders that as we have had this virus in this country since February last year why the various State and Federal Governments haven't passed legislation with not only a penalty aspect but a fair leaning towards deterring these miscreants as well.
The Government can't just make up fines and penalties for an offence after it has been committed, The fines and penalties need to be in place prior to the commission of the offence. One wonders that as we have had this virus in this country since February last year why the various State and Federal Governments haven't passed legislation with not only a penalty aspect but a fair leaning towards deterring these miscreants as well.
Couldn't the aggrieved parties pursue private claims for damages against these two miscreants, perhaps in a class action?
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I think they would struggle in the evidentiary department Dorian. They would need to prove that not only did the person know they had the virus but also that was the exact person who they contracted the virus from. Even if they managed to do all of that there would be a fair chance that the person being sued did not have any money so the victory would be hollow.
Funnily enough, the police released a few details yesterday that said this particular couple may have had legitimate grounds for travelling but the police did not disclose what they may have been.
I think they would struggle in the evidentiary department Dorian. They would need to prove that not only did the person know they had the virus but also that was the exact person who they contracted the virus from.
Isn't it just sufficient that these people were responsible for the subsequent losses because their illegal (?) lockdown circumvention prompted the authorities to act in the manner that they did? Whether or not they knew they had the virus is irrelevant as I see it. To me it's a case of reckless endangerment, especially if they travelled from an area which was listed as an exposure site.
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It really comes back to what people wish to do Dorian. If someone could prove causation, remoteness of damage, duty of care and damages then they would succeed. The problem would be that if you had a class action, even if you won, what would you get if they had nothing.
It is a bit like when idiots take a boat out fishing when the seas are really rough and have to be rescued. The water police, navy or rescue don't sue them for wages, cost of fuel and everyone getting wet. Usually what happens the dunces receive a fine and that is the end of it.
I take your point though. Because of the threat to some of the towns, events that had been planned in those localities had to be cancelled and people would have no doubt lost a lot of money.
It appears from what I am reading they crossed 2 state borders without the appropriate paperwork or authorization. If this is proved to be true throw the book at them. Maybe others will then think twice. Landy
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In life it is important to know when to stop arguing with people
and simply let them be wrong.
The only penalty that they can be given is the penalty that exists at the moment. The Government cannot make a retrospective penalty to fit their breaches. I don't know what the current penalties for border hopping are, from memory it is a fine and being turned around.
As far as lawyers testing the state laws bgt, one has to have a client first of all. They are not private investigators of the hypothetical.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Sunday 13th of June 2021 08:27:43 AM
