About 1am on Sunday, April 26, the three men - aged 20, 21 and 23 - attended a fast food restaurant on the Princes Highway, Nowra, and sat at an indoor table together.

Staff spoke to the trio and informed them the restaurant was only open for takeaway meals.

They refused and continued to eat their meals before leaving.

Officers from South Coast Police District were patrolling nearby and after speaking to staff, stopped their vehicle.

The 20-year-old driver told police he had driven from Bexley to Sussex Inlet to buy a boat with two friends.

They were each issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices (PIN) for non-essential travel.

In the past 24 hours NSW Police have charged one person under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 23 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au or call 1800 333 000 .

Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Read more: Crime/Court

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