Leeton police have issued a number of warnings over the Easter long weekend for those who were leaving their homes without reasonable excuses or failing to follow ministerial directions.
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A 32-year-old man riding a bike was stopped by police at the intersection of Dunn Avenue and Acacia Avenue at 7pm on April 11 and warned after informing police he had no reasonable excuse to be outside.
Police also warned a 22-year-old man on Dunn Avenue at 7.20pm on April 11 for failing to follow public health directions, while a 39-year-old man was warned by police on Linden Way after being stopped without a reasonable excuse for leaving the house at 1am on April 12.
All who were warned complied with the direction and no fines were issued, but Murrumbidgee Police District Commander Superintendent Craig Ireland said if police are required to act to ensure government directions are adhered to, they will.
"People should not be leaving home without a reasonable excuse," Superintendent Ireland said.
"If you disobey this direction, you can expect to be fined.
"We need to work together as a community and embrace these rules."
Superintendent Ireland said shopping for food, travel for medical treatment and exercise are examples of reasonable excuses to be out and police will be enforcing the measures put in place which allows them to fine individuals breaching the Public Health Act.
"Police want to work with the public and would prefer that people follow the government directions so that we don't need to intervene," he said.
"But rest assured, if police are required to act, we will."
Maximum penalties for those found to be breaching the measures in NSW is up to six months in prison and/or a $11,000 fine, with an extra $5500 fine per day if individuals continue to fail to follow the measures.
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In other police news, a man will face court after he was found to be driving while suspended and in an unregistered car.
Police stopped a vehicle without registration plates on Belah Street at 10.25am on April 10.
After officers asked the driver to produce his licence, the man told police he did not have one, with a further identification check indicating the driver's licence has been suspended.
A further check of the vehicle found the registration plates inside the vehicle, with a registration check indicating the car had been unregistered since October 2019.
The man was issued with a notice to attend court.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Leeton police on 6953 1399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
