A Hunter MP is calling for Police to use fairness and clarity when enforcing mask regulations when in cars.
In a post shared on Facebook, Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said he had been contacted a number of constituents from different addresses being fined for not wearing masks, while in the car together.
Mr Piper shared a case where a couple living at different addresses driving in Newcastle were fined after driving together without masks.
The Public Health Order section 17(3) states a person is only exempt from the mask rule if they are travelling with someone from the same household.
Mr Piper says the rule is fairly obscure and most people are unware of the rule.
"This is the heavy hand of the law, rather than the soft touch that brings people along, and that's what we need," Mr Piper said.
He says he supports the Public Health Orders but believes Police could be more supportive in educating the community.
"Let's get out there and educate the community and remind them they have to be doing it, and sometimes in a situation like this they need to use common sense and the discretion they have available," Mr Piper said.
The member for Lake Macquarie has written to the Police Minister David Elliott, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and the Attorney-General Mark Speakman to seek clarity and urge fairness to be applied to the masks-in-cars rule.
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| Image: Greg Piper MP Facebook |
