A 27-year-old Queensland male copped a $550 on-the-spot fine for failing to quit a licensed premises in Byron Bay in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The man was arguing with security at Cheeky Monkey’s nightclub after they refused him entry as he was already over the limit.
Police say the man continued to argue when officers arrived and, after failing to follow the police direction to leave the area, he was issued with the penalty notice.
A police spokesperson has reiterated that ‘intoxicated, antisocial behaviour occurring in the Tweed Byron Local Area Command will not be tolerated. If you do not leave licensed premises when told to by employees of the licensed premises or by police you will be issued an on-the-spot fine.
The spokesperson added, ‘When you are asked to leave the licensed premises you must not remain within 50 metres of [it] otherwise you will be committing an offence. Again this offence carries an on-the-spot penalty of $550.’
that’s a pretty dodgy article title.
So the government coffers gets $550 and the residents and visitors of Byron Bay get to deal with a drunk, anti-social and angry young man wandering the streets late at night. That sucks! What good is a Law that just pushes agressive drunks 50 metres away from a licensed premises and into the paths of the general public. It’s hard enough dealing with the general rowdiness on Jonson Street even at 8 or 9pm without having to deal with someone so smashed and agro they aren’t even allowed into Cheeky Monkeys.
The Police should be required to take the guy off the streets until he sobers up and calms down. Lack of resources should not be an excuse. Put his $550 towards a chill out session in the lock up.