Advertisement Most people who have received $1000 COVID-19 fines for breaching social distancing rules have not paid or can’t afford to pay them, leading to calls for a means-tested system and review of police conduct. Fewer than a quarter of the 1854 fines police issued in 14 months since they were introduced have been paid in full, figures obtained by the Redfern Legal Centre under freedom of information laws reveal. Professor Simon Rice is objecting to the fine issued to him. Credit:Kate Geraghty The figures show NSW Police issued the fines between January 1, 2020, and February 24 this year, including to children. The data reveals 22 per cent of the fines — about $415,000 of the total $1,854,000 owing — had been paid in full.