Charlotte Foster
Travel Trouble

Warning for travellers after Gold Coast man cops $13k fine

A man has copped a whopping fine after allegedly hurling abuse at airline staff at the Gold Coast airport. 

The 61-year-old man from Tasmania has been accused of verbally abusing an airport staff member before failing to co-operate with intervening police, and has subsequently been charged with allegedly obstructing police and being a public nuisance.

The man faced Coolangatta Magistrates Court on Monday, with the Federal Police warning other travellers that such behaviour would warrant a fine. 

“The maximum penalty for each offence is six months’ imprisonment or a $6452 fine,” the AFP said.

The AFP warned travellers aggression would not be tolerated in airports, as Superintendent Mark Yarrow said, “Our airports are a shared space and airport staff should not be subjected to verbal abuse or any other bad behaviour.”

“Our airports are a shared space and airport staff should not be subjected to verbal abuse or any other bad behaviour."

“The AFP works closely with our partners in the airline industry to intervene if anyone’s behaviour in or around an airport becomes aggressive.”

Image credits: Shutterstock 

Tags:
travel trouble, airport, abuse, fine, Gold Coast