A day after tough new rules were imposed to keep people from locked-down areas out of regional Victorian venues, police have revealed a spike in the number of fines issued to people sneaking out.
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Permitted workers and people visiting intimate partners in regional areas must understand the restrictions that apply to them in locked-down areas apply at all times.
Police issued 52 fines on Sunday out of the 17,582 cars checked heading into regional areas, the highest number recorded so far.
Most Ballarat venues were already checking patron's IDs or licences upon entry before the new rules came into place - venues now face a $10,000 fine for consciously letting someone from a locked-down area in.
On Saturday, for example, two parties tried to enter the Boatshed Restaurant but were turned away at the door after either revealing they were from a locked-down area, or refusing to comply.
The Boatshed's Parintron Khieo-on said the venue had been proactive in setting up its COVID-Safe plan, which includes a digital contact tracing system.
"We had an email sent out to all the businesses in hospitality last Thursday, making sure there was a list of postcodes we have to check when customers come through the door," he explained.
"All the staff have been prompted to check if the person's sanitised their hands, then there's a QR code they have to scan in, to check in (for contact tracing), then we check everyone's ID or licence for their postcode where they're coming from."
With the new rules, there were concerns that young staff would face uncomfortable situations when dealing with demanding customers, but Mr Khieo-on said most people understood the need for the new practices.
"(One customer on Saturday) said she was from a restricted area but she's got a permit to come out, and she told me "do I need to get it up for you" - she had no proof, and if you're from that area (you can't come in)," he said.
"It was very civil between us, because her and her partner understood what we had to do."
Mr Khieo-on said hospitality workers had found themselves on the "frontline", but it was important work which would keep businesses open and communities safe.
"We feel like we're over it as well, having to ask everyone, but on the other hand, with the people coming through, everyone's been in this situation long enough to understand they are going to get asked for their IDs when they go out anywhere to sit down and have a meal or a coffee," he said.
"A lot of extra work goes into the job these days - it's about getting people to do certain things when they come through the door, and when they leave, you have to rush in and clean everything, sanitising the chairs and table and trying to keep the restaurant clean for everyone."
Victoria Police will "actively enforce" the new rules, a spokesperson said in a statement - affected businesses include food and beverage facilities with seated service; accommodation including camping grounds, caravan parks, hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast and private holiday rentals like AirBnBs, where it is operated for the purpose of tourism; personal services businesses including hairdressers, beauty salons, tanning, nail salons; and licensed tourism operators.
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"We do not want regional communities to be put at risk by those who deliberately breach the Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions," they said.
"Victoria Police strengthened its enforcement activities across the state when regional restrictions were eased on 16 September, both at our vehicle checkpoints and in regional and rural areas in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus."
Residence checks aren't required for takeaway from venues.
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