Emerald man guilty to drug driving at Emerald Magistrates Court

The driver was caught while driving along a Central Queensland highway.

Jack Edward Mooney pleaded guilty at Emerald Magistrates Court on August 3 to driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva.

A Central Queensland diesel mechanic caught drug driving near Emerald received the minimum penalty due to his “fairly good” traffic history.

Jack Edward Mooney pleaded guilty at Emerald Magistrates Court on August 3 to driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva.

Mooney was intercepted by police about 11am on May 20 along the Gregory Highway for a random breath test.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Cramp said Mooney passed the breath test but failed the saliva test, admitting to police he had consumed drugs prior to driving.

Further tests revealed the presence of meth and MDMA, and Mooney was issued a 24 hour suspension.

Lawyer Clancy Robba of Wiseman Lawyers said his client, who worked on a seven-on-seven-off roster for Hitachi, would be applying for a restricted work licence.

Magistrate Ron Muirhead said the severity of the matter was the fact that two drugs were detected, not just one.

Although he said it was in Mooney’s favour that he had no previous convictions, had a “fairly good” traffic history, and had completed a Queensland Traffic Offenders Program course.

Mooney was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for one month. He was issued a restricted work licence to allow him to maintain employment during the disqualification period.