Wayne James French sentenced at Dalby Magistrates Court for illegal radar detector

A man was busted speeding on a Western Downs highway despite being in possession of an illegal radar detector, which he claimed he thought was a ‘child’s toy’. See what he said in court.

Just after a man was pulled over by police for speeding on a highway, he was found to be in possession of an illegal radar detector that he claimed he thought was a children’s toy.

Wayne James French appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on July 4 after he was charged with speeding and possessing the illegal speed-detecting device.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said on the morning of May 31, the Mackay man was intercepted by police for driving 121km/h in a 100km/h zone on Leichardt Highway at Kowguran.

“As police were dealing with (French) they could see into the vehicle and saw an object at the front centre of the dashboard and it had a power cord leading down to the centre console,” Sergeant Brady said.

“It was consistent with being the shape of a radar detector.”

The court was told when police asked the man if it were a detector, he replied “I don’t know what it is”.

“He voluntarily handed it to police. He stated he was unaware it was an offence to possess or use a radar detector in Queensland at the time,” Sergeant Brady said.

“It had the words ‘radar detector’ on a sticker underneath it.”

The court was told when the police further examined the device they powered it up using a port from the police vehicle which activated the radar and provided audible and visual indications that it was in fact a radar detector.

Magistrate Kyna Morice asked the man if there were anything he would like to say.

“To be completely honest I thought it was a child’s toy,” French said.

“It wasn’t even plugged in.”

He told the court he’d started driving at midnight, when there was a number of items on his car seat which he moved to the dashboard.

The court was aslo told the man had since lost his job as a machine operator from having to drive back and forth to look after his father.

Ms Morice pointed out it was quite obvious that French hadn’t been using the device.

“Well it’s very clear you weren’t using it because you were caught for speeding,” she said.

French pleaded guilty to one count each of speeding and possessing a device used to detect speed cameras.

He was fined $650 for both offences, and convictions were recorded.