Michael Hartin faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for drink driving in Dalby
A Toowoomba magistrate told a local farmer and coal miner that she had no sympathy for any difficulties he may face as a result of his loss of licence during his court appearance for drink driving.
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A court has been told a Toowoomba region farmer was caught driving over the middle alcohol limit after Dalby officers noticed his busted tail-light and tray full of “empties”.
Police prosecutor Alister Windsor said coal miner Michael Fredrick Hartin was pulled over in Drayton just before midnight on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
The court was told police discovered a number of empty alcohol cans in the back of his ute after Hartin was pulled over, and that he returned a positive reading roadside for alcohol, with further tests revealing a blood alcohol level of 0.104.
At Toowoomba Magistrate Court on Monday, March 6, Hartin pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit but not over the high alcohol limit.
Defence lawyer Troy Krahenbring said the mandatory licence disqualification would greatly impact the heavy machinery operator who had to drive to and from work at a coal mine, as well as operate his farm at Geham.
Mr Krahenbring noted Hartin would have to use Greyhound bus services while unlicensed.
Magistrate Kay Philipson said she had no sympathy for Hartin’s circumstances considering he made a decision to drink and drive and endanger the lives of other road users.
Ms Philipson disqualified Hartin’s licence for three months and fined him $750.
The court was told Hartin had already also completed a Queensland Traffic Offenders Program.
No conviction was recorded.
Originally published as Michael Hartin faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for drink driving in Dalby
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