General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[serfty]

A guy took his car late at night to the car wash with his dog, and got fined. The footage showed an empty car wash with him, the dog and the police.

And VICPOL has withdrawn the fine ... seems if a business is legitimately open then you can legitimately use it, whatever the hour.

 

[dajop]

If so, why has it retained 10,000 of its 30,000 staff according to (perhaps dated) media reports?

A temporary shutdown, but have a look at the departures boards of our major airport websites during the week, and you will see how much they are(n't) flying as well.

 

[Steady]

And VICPOL has withdrawn the fine ... seems if a business is legitimately open then you can legitimately use it, whatever the hour.

Seem fair to me.

 

[nutwood]

And VICPOL has withdrawn the fine ... seems if a business is legitimately open then you can legitimately use it, whatever the hour.

I would like to see a reverse penalty applied to withdrawn fines. Sorry officer, you got it wrong. You pay it!
On the spot is so open to abuse when the laws are brand new and have not been subject to any court review. My concern is that for every one of these publicised and promptly withdrawn fines, there are many others that are causing unnecessary stress to totally innocent people, just living their life.

 

[Pushka]

We live along the Esplanade at Henley Beach. In a unit. We took the warning and did not travel 90 kms away to our shack where we would have been fully self contained, no shops, and our own space. Would not have seen a person all day. So what happened today? We were inundated with local people walking, running and cycling. We would have been "safer" had we gone to our shack.

 

[Steady]

We live along the Esplanade at Henley Beach. In a unit. We took the warning and did not travel 90 kms away to our shack where we would have been fully self contained, no shops, and our own space. Would not have seen a person all day. So what happened today? We were inundated with local people walking, running and cycling. We would have been "safer" had we gone to our shack.

The locals were invading your space to make yo lass “safer”?

 

[serfty]

We were inundated with local people walking, running and cycling. We would have been "safer" had we gone to our shack.

How did they get there?

Assuming exercise, In Vic, if you can't get there self powered to exercise then you cannot!

 

[drron]

I read David Walsh's blog-he of MONA fame.His most recent post does discuss Covid and isolation but also something of his past as a professional gambler and maths nerd.Worth a read.

Killers, cardinals, quarantines, jellybeans and vaccines – Blog | Mona

David's COVID-19 Diary Part Four: Monday 6–Thursday 9 April 2020

mona.net.au

 

[Pushka]

How did they get there?

Assuming exercise, In Vic, if you can't get there self powered to exercise then you cannot!

Cars. Bikes. Scooters. Skateboards. Walking. Allowed in SA. But strongly discouraged for us to drive further distances into country areas. So many bikes that there were two Police on bikes issuing tickets to people not wearing helmets.

Also found out that neighbours brother tested positive for corona as part of the baggage handlers hot spot.

 

[juddles]

I would like to see a reverse penalty applied to withdrawn fines. Sorry officer, you got it wrong. You pay it!
On the spot is so open to abuse when the laws are brand new and have not been subject to any court review. My concern is that for every one of these publicised and promptly withdrawn fines, there are many others that are causing unnecessary stress to totally innocent people, just living their life.

nutwood, in one sense I understand you and your views.

But I would like to express a view from "the other side". This whole reality is very new - alarmingly so. No police officer would have dreamed just a couple of months ago that they would be asked to enforce the myriad and unclear "social - distancing" measures that have sprung up today. No doubt they are just trying to enforce this new reality as best they can... And on the other side is the people they are meant to enforce these "against". We all have our own opinions and personal situations. It is a time of much personal "stress". And given that, an individual, in his/her own world of pain, can be quite difficult a person to deal with. I imagine that this whole thing is a nightmare for the police to deal with. My old experience in policing is that you are always essentially the meat in the sandwich - you get hammerred if you do not enforce whatever law gets invented, but equally so you get hamerred if you do try to do so....

I think a way to best understand all this is the "spirit" of all the various social-distancing and stay-at-home laws.Essentially the government is trying to get everyone to minimize unnecessary movement. Yes, there can be argued the point that someone is abiding by the strict laws in that a carwash is open - but is that really in that "spirit" of things? Just how essential is washing your car in a time when the entire country is at war???

 

[Pushka]

We can see people struggling in working from home and dealing with older school age kids. Distress amongst quite senior people. It's getting too much having to deal with conference calls and usual work and the demand to home school with the fear the children will suffer educationally. And additionally those working from home where their home environment is not the least bit conducive to a normal work environment creating angst all round. In our unit complex the guy downstairs expects everyone to provide him with his normal environment. On one side and near his fence there are two gorgeous kids aged maybe 8 and 10 who are normal kids who make a bit of noise. On his other side is maybe a 12 year old who practices piano. And then there is us, the unit above him. He's already had a go at me but I told him that I am quiet and it wasn't my problem to fix. He's a cranky man and he's only going to get worse as time goes on.

 

[nutwood]

nutwood, in one sense I understand you and your views.

But I would like to express a view from "the other side". This whole reality is very new - alarmingly so. No police officer would have dreamed just a couple of months ago that they would be asked to enforce the myriad and unclear "social - distancing" measures that have sprung up today. No doubt they are just trying to enforce this new reality as best they can... And on the other side is the people they are meant to enforce these "against". We all have our own opinions and personal situations. It is a time of much personal "stress". And given that, an individual, in his/her own world of pain, can be quite difficult a person to deal with. I imagine that this whole thing is a nightmare for the police to deal with. My old experience in policing is that you are always essentially the meat in the sandwich - you get hammerred if you do not enforce whatever law gets invented, but equally so you get hamerred if you do try to do so....

I think a way to best understand all this is the "spirit" of all the various social-distancing and stay-at-home laws.Essentially the government is trying to get everyone to minimize unnecessary movement. Yes, there can be argued the point that someone is abiding by the strict laws in that a carwash is open - but is that really in that "spirit" of things? Just how essential is washing your car in a time when the entire country is at war???

Totally agree. I'm based in Tasmania and have a reasonable social interaction with various police. It's still a culture but they're just doing a job.
I go to NSW and it's a totally different vibe. I recall being stopped for a RBT on a country road. One on one but I'd have got more human response from a terminator! These are the people who are slapping four figure penalties on people who'd probably struggle to pay a parking fine. New, untried laws, surely you threaten, caution, cajole; do anything before you actually pull out the book?
I'm very aware that there are some people who just accept being a victim. I've met people on benefits who just accept six weeks without money because of a paperwork error that was not theirs. These are the quiet Australians who'll starve themselves to pay a $1000 fine for sitting in a park and unless it becomes public, I wonder if their penalties will be reviewed?

 

[drron]

Well a new loophole for Victorians.If you fish from the bank of the Murray river on the Victorian side you are breaking the Covid law but take a couple of steps and have both feet in the water you are no longer breaking a Covid law.The waters of the Murray are part of NSW.

 

[p--and--t]

I feel for the police in these situations.

New laws, ill defined, untested, decision making on the go by authorities. A workforce on rotating rosters, hearing stuff third hand through supervisors.

The Premier repeating ad nauseam that the only reasons you shouldn't be home are a short list of getting food, getting medicine, medical appt, to/from work or education, necessary exercise. Then announces very publicly says we have had enough of people flouting the rules and police will be issuing on the spot fines.

What are the police expected to do when someone is out and about after midnight washing his car in a public place.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

 

[Flashback]

Cars. Bikes. Scooters. Skateboards. Walking. Allowed in SA. But strongly discouraged for us to drive further distances into country areas. So many bikes that there were two Police on bikes issuing tickets to people not wearing helmets.

Also found out that neighbours brother tested positive for corona as part of the baggage handlers hot spot.

Ahh.. I forgot Australia is a nanny state and has laws around helmets on bicycles! Note, I do always wear one but it's nice to have the choice especially when in a park, off the road etc.

 

[juddles]

Well a new loophole for Victorians.If you fish from the bank of the Murray river on the Victorian side you are breaking the Covid law but take a couple of steps and have both feet in the water you are no longer breaking a Covid law.The waters of the Murray are part of NSW.

It all gets back to common sense. The government in every area is trying to get citizens to stay at home. Makes perfect sense. Picking holes in the respective guidelines is just trying to find fault. I completely agree that the laws etc are imperfect. But it is only an argumentative type that does not simply get the principle message - stay the flock at home!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well a new loophole for Victorians.If you fish from the bank of the Murray river on the Victorian side you are breaking the Covid law but take a couple of steps and have both feet in the water you are no longer breaking a Covid law.The waters of the Murray are part of NSW.

Being a regular Murray River offgrid camper you do not have to get your feet wet. The border is normally the levee bank. Anything to do with the water including boating NSW regulations apply.

However much of the bank is now in areas that are now closed (Parks and and Reserves) to the public, and so in those zones you cannot get access.

 

[get me outta here]

I’d like to see someone argue that with the cops as they are trying to issue a ticket.

Those young AFF recruits that got into trouble having a noisy late night party across the road from a residential area in Canberra, stated that they had been all living together and studying together quite closely. Which of course is probably the case. In which case they do not deserve to all be sacked or whatever happens to new recruits. Talking of banning alcohol is probably a good half measure as a compromise.

Well a new loophole for Victorians.If you fish from the bank of the Murray river on the Victorian side you are breaking the Covid law but take a couple of steps and have both feet in the water you are no longer breaking a Covid law.The waters of the Murray are part of NSW.

 

[Denali]

I’d like to see someone argue that with the cops as they are trying to issue a ticket.

Those young AFF recruits that got into trouble having a noisy late night party across the road from a residential area in Canberra, stated that they had been all living together and studying together quite closely. Which of course is probably the case. In which case they do not deserve to all be sacked or whatever happens to new recruits. Talking of banning alcohol is probably a good half measure as a compromise.

AFF recruits

I know you mean AFP but its funnier this way! I have visions of AFFers getting Lounge & points training while locked up.

 

[serfty]

Well a new loophole for Victorians.If you fish from the bank of the Murray river on the Victorian side you are breaking the Covid law but take a couple of steps and have both feet in the water you are no longer breaking a Covid law.The waters of the Murray are part of NSW.

Being a regular Murray River offgrid camper you do not have to get your feet wet. The border is normally the levee bank. Anything to do with the water including boating NSW regulations apply. ...

Yes, it is essentially the high water 'flood' mark that denotes the state border.