Couple wrongly fined £1,600 for being on holiday – after they posted old pictures on social media – The Sun

A COUPLE were wrongly fined AUD$3,304 (£1,683) after they were reported for being on holiday – because they posted old pictures on social media.

Jazz Mott and her husband Garry shareƒd images on Facebook of a trip they took last year.

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The couple, who live in Victoria, Australia, visited Lakes Entrance last June, a two-hour drive from their home.

However, they only shared the images earlier this week after finding them on their computer when they moved house.

A few days after they shared the old images online, they were greeted by police at their doorstep who issued the fine.

Jazz told Daily Mail Australia: "I was actually stunned when she handed me the fine."

She added that she was told they had breached guidelines after "going for a drive to Lakes Entrance (non-essential travel)", and the pair were charged AUD$1,652 (£841) each.

While a senior officer said that the fine would be revoked, Jazz was told "not to post any more photos while the lockdown is in place".


The police also added that while they are not monitoring social media, they are responding to breaches reported by the public.

It isn't clear who reported the couple.

A Victoria Police spokesman told 7NEWS that the "the decision has been made to withdraw the infringement notice" after it was reviewed.

They explained: "On occasion, errors will be made however that is why a review process exists to ensure instances such as these are identified and rectified."

People living in Victoria in Australia are currently on lockdown, with some of the strictest rules in the country.

Locals are only allowed to leave their homes for essential travel, including to buy food and to exercise, under stage three restrictions.

In the UK, police can fine people breaking the lockdown guidelines up to £960 if caught repeatedly flouting the rules.

Currently, anyone caught travelling non-essentially will be fined £60 on the spot, with the amount doubling for each additional offence.

Police have issued more than 1,000 fines since the lockdown.

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