By Alesha Capone
Police issued 158 fines to people found to be breaching coronavirus restrictions across the state on the weekend, including to a group gathered at a Wyndham reserve and a trio arrested in a stolen car in Rockbank.
Nine people who gathered at a Wyndham Vale reserve to play rugby were fined by police officers.
Police also fined seven people playing soccer at a Mill Park oval, nine people found gathered at a rented short-stay apartment in Southbank, eight people having a party in St Kilda East and a number of overseas tourists holding a party at a rented short-stay property in Cowes.
In the past 24 hours, police officers conducted 1123 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services, to check people were complying with Covid-19 pandemic regulations.
Since March 21, Victoria Police has conducted a total of 20,426 spot check.
On Friday, police also received a number of 000 calls in relation to a vehicle which was driving erratically, at high speeds and disobeying red traffic lights.
Local police observed the vehicle, which was a stolen Ford ranger ute, near Davis Road, Tarneit.
Westgate and Brimbank Highway Patrol, along with the Police Air Wing, tracked the vehicle to Hopkins Road near Greigs Road in Rockbank.
The vehicle stopped on the Western Freeway, between Hopkins Road and Ballarat Road, where three offenders were arrested.
The driver was remanded into custody for numerous offences.
The two other passengers were charged and bailed to appear at court at a later date.
The offenders were also found to be in breach of pandemic directions issued by the Chief Health Officer and were issued with a $1652 penalty notice.
There have now been 1281 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Victoria, including 27 in Wyndham, 61 in Greater Geelong, 31 in Brimbank, 18 in Melton, 13 in Hobsons Bay and 10 in Maribyrnong.
