FULL LIST: Ipswich and Springfield’s worst drink driving suburbs revealed
Some Ipswich suburbs are reporting an alarming spike in the number of drink and drug drivers compared to nearby areas. See the full suburb breakdown and list of recent offenders here.
Ipswich
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Drink and drug drivers charged around Ipswich are on the increase according to data which reveals more drivers have been busted this year compared to the beginning of 2021.
According to Queensland Police statistics, last year three areas in the Ipswich region recorded a significantly higher number of drivers charged with drink driving – Goodna, Ipswich, and Yamanto. Police Inspector David Nevin has more than three decades of experience and said there was no particular pattern to when and where drink and drug drivers take to the roads.
“We use intelligence to determine and target areas, if there’s a high level of crashes in a particular area we will target that area,” he said.
Inspector Nevin said there had been a number of serious crashes in the region this year, some of which involved drivers allegedly under the influence, as well as drivers allegedly not paying attention to their surroundings.
“We are always targeting drink drivers and our message is, simply just do not do it,” he said.
“Certainly if you’re out drinking do not even think about driving, it’s important to figure out other ways to get home.
“You’re not just putting yourself at risk but others as well and you don’t want to have to tell someone they’re lost a loved one due to your bad choices.”
Inspector Nevin said police would be out in force during the next school holidays and urged everyone to drive safely.
“If you are driving you need to make sure you do it safely, you are always aware of your surroundings, and you are free of distractions,” he said.
DISTRICT BREAKDOWN
The Goodna police district recorded a significantly higher number of drink driving charges compared to any other area, with 113 people charged in the first four months of 2022, and 304 charges in 2021.
The Yamanto police district recorded the second highest number of drink driving charges with 93 people charged in the first four months of 2022, and 180 charges in 2021.
In the heart of the region, Ipswich city, police charged 82 drivers in the first four months of 2022, and 160 in 2021.
South of the city in the Springfield police district, 50 charges were laid in the first four months of 2022, and 113 in 2021.
The firth worst area for drink driving was Karana Downs, as police charged 32 drivers in the first four months of 2022, and 95 in 2021.
Queensland police data showed the number of people driving under the influence was rising each year although numbers dropped in 2020 and 2021, before spiking in 2022.
The drop may be attributed to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions which resulted in less people using roads.
When strict lockdowns hit Ipswich in April 2020, police charged 61 people with drink driving – an all-time monthly low that has only happened three times over the past two decades. Here’s a list of residents who were recently guilty of drink or drug driving on local roads:
DRUG DRIVERS
Joel Adam McKenzie
Ipswich plumber Joel Adam McKenzie drove with methamphetamine in his system on July 15, 2021.
An Ipswich court heard the 41-year-old’s licence was disqualified at the time.
On April 6, 2022, McKenzie pleaded guilty to drug driving as well as a number of other charges relating to his drug habit and a trespassing incident.
The father also pleaded guilty to possessing a meth pipe, attempted stealing, trespass, possessing a Taser and the unlicensed driving of an uninsured and unregistered vehicle.
McKenzie was fined $3000 and disqualified from driving for two years.
Shannon Margaret O’Brien
Police investigating a crash at Grantham on the Warrego Highway in June, 2021, quickly realised something was amiss after finding meth and a needle in the car wreck.
An Ipswich court heard the 33-year-old driver, Shannon Margaret O’Brien, had her blood tested and results came back positive for meth.
On Monday, January 17, O’Brien pleaded guilty to drug driving, failing to dispose of a needle/syringe, possessing drug/ drug utensils, and was fined $500.
O’Brien was also disqualified from driving for three months.
Troy James Hardiker
Ipswich C&E concreter Troy James Hardiker was caught driving with meth in his system on two occasions.
An Ipswich court heard the 45-year-old was caught on September 27 at Redbank Plains and on October 8 at Swanbank.
On Monday, January 17, Hardiker pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving and was sentenced to a 12-month probation order and disqualified from driving for six months.
Duane Anthony Baker
In an unusual case, an Ipswich man was at large for years following a 2018 drug driving charge.
However when Covid restrictions eased in January 2022, Duane Anthony Baker came back to the sunshine state to come clean.
At Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, January 17, Baker, 30, pleaded guilty to driving with marijuana in his system at Collingwood Park and was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for one month.
Paige Marie Mann
In 2021, Ipswich mum Paige Marie Mann was caught driving on meth three times while on her provisional licence on May 23, June 3, and July 8.
The court heard the promising hairdresser struggled with addiction.
Mann pleaded guilty to three charges of drug driving while on a provisional licence and driving unlicensed.
Mann was placed on parole for 12 months and had her licence suspended for two years.
Chad Barry Evans
Ipswich dad Chad Barry Evans was caught driving with methamphetamine in his system at West Ipswich in March, 2021.
An Ipswich court heard the 36-year-old had a drug problem which led him to committing a number of other crimes including stealing food from Woolworths.
In January 2022, Evans pleaded guilty to drug possession, drug driving, stealing, breaching bail, and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and disqualified from driving for one month.
Eric Roy Anthony
Yarrabilba man Eric Roy Anthony was caught driving with methamphetamine in his system at Redbank Plains on May 22, 2021.
An Ipswich court heard the 32-year-old man came to the attention of officers after he drove in the wrong direction on the Ipswich Motorway.
The car Anthony was in was sported stolen plates at the time.
Prosecutor Sergeant Paul Caldwell said Anthony had already been sentenced to nine months jail with immediate parole in a Beenleigh court in August for the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving an unregistered vehicle and having plates attached that belonged to another vehicle.
A month later Anthony was convicted with no further penalty imposed after he pleaded guilty to the leftover charge of drug driving.
The court heard lab results had been the cause of the delay.
Dean Jason Roots
Purga man Dean Jason Roots was caught driving from MacDonald’s with benzodiazepines, morphine, methadone and codeine in his system.
A court heard the 43-year-old was seen dozing off behind the wheel of his car while in a drive-through at Ripley on March 14, 2021.
At Ipswich Magistrates Court on September 3, Roots pleaded guilty to drug driving and was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for six months.
DRINK DRIVERS
Benjamin James Stringer
Tivoli dad Benjamin James Stringer, crashed his car through a neighbour’s fence with a blood alcohol reading of .186 per cent.
A court heard the self-employed painter drank a six pack of Jack Daniels before driving into the fence at 33 Lukie Crescent, Tivoli, on December 7, 2021.
On Monday, January 17, Stringer pleaded guilty to drink driving and was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for 11 months.
Karen Ann Robertson
A court heard Ipswich mum Karen Ann Robertson became aggressive and kicked an officer in the crotch when she was arrested for drink driving after she was pulled over on March 6, 2019.
Ipswich Magistrate Robert Walker said the actions of the 48-year-old former teacher demonstrated how difficult the job of police is.
On Tuesday, October 2, Robertson pleaded guilty to seven charges which included; driving over the zero limit while on a provisional licence, driving unlicensed, drug driving while on a provisional licence, assaulting police, and failing to appear.
Timothy James Hart
Redland Bay man Timothy James Hart was caught drink driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.293 per cent – almost six times the legal limit.
A court heard the self-professed alcoholic was pulled over at Silkstone on September 7, 2021.
Hart said he was driving because he was buying cigarettes for a homeless woman who was picking up cigarette butts near his motel.
The 39-year-old man pleaded guilty to drink driving and was placed on a two year probation order and disqualified for driving for 18 months.
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED
Jasmine Maree Gundry
Off duty police woman Jasmine Maree Gundry was caught drink driving after leaving a work function at Ipswich on a Friday night, April 8, 2022.
An Ipswich court heard Gundry, 27, was very embarrassed, remorseful, and she didn’t know she was over the limit – it had been the first time she drank since giving birth.
Gundry pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit (0.06 BAC) in May, and was fined $400.
No conviction was recorded and Gundry’s license was disqualified for one month.
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