Police checkpoints have been set up in a number of areas across Fife in a bid to ensure motorists have a valid reason to be there.
One roadblock was set up on the A915 Windygates to Leven road, near the Diageo bottling plant at Banbeath, and drivers reported lengthy queues as officers spoke to each car’s occupants individually.
Despite that, a spokesperson for Police Scotland stressed that the activity there was in relation to the theft of a car in the Levenmouth area.
However, it is understood officers have been seen in other areas to help monitor traffic.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman told The Courier it is now imperative for people to heed the advice for at least the next three weeks.
He said: “The advice given by the UK and Scottish governments is not optional, it must be followed to make sure we protect the most vulnerable and our health service.
“We are already seeing the NHS being stretched, and we are not even near the peak of this virus yet, so if you go out, gather in groups or ignore social distancing rules you are putting lives at risk.
“There are many people in our community who are at high risk and by flouting the strict guidelines set out by the government you could be heightening that risk to serious levels. It could be your mum, your dad, your granny we are talking about – it is literally a life and death situation for many who need us all to be responsible citizens.
“The messages are simple – stay indoors, work from home if your job allows, do not go out unless for essentials like shopping, don’t buy more than you need, keep your distance from others, follow the self -isolating rules if you or a member of your household is displaying symptoms and wash your hands.
“If we keep to the rules, we’ll get through this.”
