Drink or drug drivers sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court

From a drink driver busted after finding out his father was dying to a driver who picked up a family member while intoxicated these are the most recent Western Downs drivers sentenced.

A series of drink or drug drivers faced the Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Here’s what happened.

NO CONVICTION RECORDED

Justin Matthew Jansen

Jansen faced court pleading guilty to high range drink driving after police detected him on Coolabah St, Dalby on August 19 where he blew a reading of 0.189.

The court was told the day prior Jansen had found out his father was being placed into palliative care and in his grief he turned to drinking.

Jansen said he started drinking on the afternoon of August 18 and when he woke up on the next morning to drive to the Gold Coast to see his father he thought he was sober.

He also said since the incident he had suffered the loss of both his father and his job.

He did however tell the court he was seeking grief and alcohol counselling, which magistrate Kathleen Payne applauded.

Ms Payne told Jansen she was “empathetic to your circumstances” and “people spoke highly of him in the community of someone of good character”.

He was fined $750 and lost his licence for six months. No conviction was recorded.

Joseph Karl Blanck

Blanck, 25, appeared in court pleading guilty to drink driving after police detected him over the limit at 10.40pm on Bunya Mountains Rd on August 30.

Blanck was leaving his friend’s place when he was detected, blowing a low-range reading of 0.075.

Blanck applied for a restricted licence which he was granted, allowing him to drive vehicles at his job as a diesel fitter.

He was fined $350, lost his licence for two months and no conviction was recorded.

Jason Vost

Vost also pleaded guilty to drink driving after police attended a property on Branch Creek Rd and issued him with a breath test, which returned a reading of 0.140.

The court was told police attended the property for another reason and spoke with Vost, who was co-operative and said he had been out driving to pick up a family member, however had been drinking.

He was then issued an immediate loss of licence.

In court Vost also applied for a restricted license which was granted and in sentencing Ms Payne took into account he had already been unlicensed for two months.

He was fined $500, received a four month loss of licence and no conviction was recorded.

Keenen Jai Cordrey

Cordrey faced Dalby Magistrates Court pleading guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva following an incident on July 30.

At about 3.30pm Cordrey was issued an RBT on Deramore St, Dalby, where he returned a positive roadside test for THC.

He was issued a $350 fine, a one month loss of licence and no conviction.