One-eyed Ipswich man’s excuse for unlicensed driving offence

A man with only one eye has appeared court to argue why he should not be punished for unlicensed driving.

Rene Pierre Zabaldano pleaded guilty to driving without a licence. Facebook: Rene Zabaldano

A man charged with driving without a licence has told a court he should be able to drive and hold a licence despite having only one eye.

Rene Pierre Zabaldano, 53, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday May 29.

The court heard Zabaldano was stopped at an Ampol Service Station in Goodna. Police discovered he had not held a licence for the past seven years and charged him.

Zabaldano told the court he was a Type 1 diabetic and was driving to collect his insulin as he had no-one to collect it for him.

He said without his insulin he would become dizzy.

The court heard he had been unable to renew his licence about seven years ago as his one eye had stopped him from meeting medical guidelines.

Mr Zabaldano said he believed he was “fine to drive” and that his loss of an eye did not affect his ability to control a car.

Judge Kinsella said the offence was not Zabaldno’s first traffic offence and said he believed it would not be his last.

He did agree Zabaldano’s need for insulin was important, but did not accept this was a one-off “emergent’’ offence.

Zabaldano was fined $600 and a conviction was recorded.