A Tatura man who was caught in another town when Victorian COVID-19 laws stated that people could only go 5km from their house will have to cough up a hefty sum of money, after appearing in court.
The 25-year-old pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to failing to comply with a direction of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, and failing to wear a face mask.
The man was fined $5462 by police, but chose to bring the matter to court.
Prosecutor Charles Moffatt told the court the Victorian Chief Health Officer issued a direction for Greater Shepparton residents not to leave the municipality on September 9, 2021.
Tatura is a part of this area.
Two days later, police found the man with a group of other motorcyclists outside a hotel in Numurkah.
He was also not wearing a face mask at the time.
Representing himself in court, the man said he was not aware he had been fined that day, saying two others from the group were fined and two — including himself — were let go.
He said he was in Numurkah on a memorial ride that his friend does each year for his father who had died.
He also said he had a mask with him and had taken it off to have a smoke.
Magistrate Peter Dunn admonished the man for being out of his town against the Chief Health Officer’s orders.
“We all had so many things we wanted to do. But it was for the greater good,” Mr Dunn said.
The man had received a $5462 fine in the mail for leaving a restricted area without a valid reason or excuse, but chose to come to court instead of paying it.
Mr Dunn placed the man on a 12-month good behaviour undertaking, with no conviction recorded.
A condition of it, however, was that he must pay $3462 to the court fund.