NSW: Fruit fly ferriers ripe for picking

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2000
NSW: Fruit fly ferriers ripe for picking

SYDNEY, April 10 AAP - Motorists may be fined up to $11,000 if they do not eat or dispose
of fresh fruit before entering the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone in southern New South Wales.

In a variation on police breath testing, "random mobile fruit fly roadblocks" will
operate in the area throughout the Easter holidays.

"Motorists who have ignored roadside signs advising them to eat or dispose of fresh
fruit they're carrying may receive $200 on-the-spot fines," TriState fruit fly coordinator
Bernie Dominiak said today.

"If the offence warrants it, they may face legal proceedings in court where fines up
to $11,000 may be imposed."

Mr Dominiak said that outbreaks in the exclusion area, covering the Murrumbidgee Irrigation
Area, the Murray and Goulburn Valleys, Sunraysia and the Riverland, were particularly
bad this season.

"The message for travellers is simple. If you're travelling into these areas or into
the state of South Australia, don't carry fresh fruit," he said.

AAP jh/jjs/bdm@

KEYWORD: FRUITFLY

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