The first fines under new COVID-19 measures announced on Tuesday were issued in Victoria the same evening.
VicPD say the fines stemmed from a dine-and-dash incident that began early in the evening of November 24.
Police were called to a restaurant in the 500-block of Yates Street just after 7:30 p.m. for a report that a group had left without paying.
Officers located the group nearby and escorted them back to the restaurant to have them settle their bill.
Staff at the restaurant told officers that some of the original group had not returned with police, and the missing individuals had been belligerent and aggressive towards staff who were trying to enforce COVID-19 restrictions.
One of the men in the group had apparently even threatened a staff member who asked him to follow the restaurant’s COVID-19 rules.
Officers were given surveillance footage from in side the restaurant to view and witnessed one man clearly violating restrictions and threatening staff.
Police were able to locate the man a short time later at another nearby restaurant. He was issued two violation tickets under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA); one under Section 6 for Abusive or Belligerent Behaviour and one for Failing to Comply with Patron Conditions.
VicPD say each of these fines, with Victim Surcharge, is $230.
