1,000 people fined for breaching travel rules

ALMOST 1,000 people have been fined for non-essential travel in the last 11 days, gardaí have said.

Gardaí patrolling our roads issued 771 penalties to people for breaching coronavirus travel restrictions.

Another 200 fines are being checked and processed, the force said.

The fines have been issued since they were introduced on January 11.

Last weekend, more than 300 fines were issued for suspected breaches of the public health regulations related to non-essential travel.

Gardaí have urged the public to plan their weekend activities within their 5km limit, which includes distance travelled from your home to exercise location.

People have been warned that anyone in a vehicle or group in breach of non-essential travel regulations can also be fined.

Gardaí warned that it will be continuing its series of checkpoints and high-visibility patrols at public amenities across the country this weekend.

A regional breakdown of the non-essential travel shows that 144 fines were issued in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, 315 in the east, 213 in the south and 99 in the north-west. Of those receiving the fines, 77% were men and 23% were woman.

Almost half of people fined were aged

‘Protect our health service and stay home’

between 18-25, while 26% were aged 26-35; 21% were aged 36-45; 8% were aged 46-55; 3% were 56-65 and the rest were aged 66 and over.

A spokesman for An Garda Síochána said: ‘The public should also be aware that if a driver is found to be in breach of the non-essential travel regulations that not only can the driver be fined, but their adult passengers as well. This is also the case for adults in groups undertaking activities such as cycling or walking.’

Gardaí have also issued 30 fines to people for not wearing masks in certain locations, with 26 of these breaches occurring in retail premises.

Under the regulations, gardaí can take enforcement action once it has been informed of the alleged breach by a relevant authority.

Deputy Garda Commissioner for Policing and Security John Twomey said: ‘At a time when significant numbers of people are dying or seriously ill, we all need to do all we can to reduce the spread.

‘If people want to protect our health service and support our doctors, nurses and other frontline workers who are putting themselves in harm’s way every day, then they should stay home.’