Drink and drug-drivers face Mackay Magistrates Court

They drank too much, or took an illicit substance and drove, and they all faced Mackay’s court for their actions. Read the full list here.

They drank too much, or took an illicit substance and drove, and they all faced Mackay’s court for their actions.

Read the full list of Mackay’s drink or drug-drivers.

Jeffrey Scott McCandless

There is a common expression that suggests lightning cannot strike the same spot twice, but if you ask Jeffrey Scott McCandless he would disagree with that old adage.

On November 24 McCandless was stopped for a breath test at 1.15am on Malcomson St, North Mackay.

He was then taken to Northern Beaches Police Station and returned a 0.105 per cent blood alcohol reading.

But less than an hour later police stopped McCandless again for a second roadside breath test on Celeber Dr, Andergrove.

Because of the first breath test, McCandless was driving without a licence, and blew 0.079 per cent at 1.50am.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court McCandless became agitated at police, and said “I f--king begged them, my f--king phone died”.

The court heard police told McCandless to calm down, but he continued swearing, and said, “If he was nice enough in the first place, I wouldn’t f--king be in this position right now”.

McCandless pleaded guilty to two drink-driving charges, as well as being a public nuisance and driving without a licence.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he would not punish McCandless for his outbursts, but he would lose his licence for the other charges.

He was fined $1750 and he was disqualified from driving for 12 months in total.

A conviction was not recorded.

Reegan Richard Curtis

A miner will have to find an alternative for his drive in, drive out role for the next five months after he was busted drug-driving.

Reegan Richard Curtis was stopped on Begley St, Airlie Beach and submitted a drug test to police.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court Curtis said he had smoked marijuana the day before.

The test returned a positive result for the illicit substance at 8.15pm on November 6, 2021.

Curtis pleaded guilty to drug-driving on a provisional licence.

He was fined $600 and was disqualified from driving for five months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Benjamin Peter Mackley

The option of mid-strength beers at the pub was not enough to keep a Mackay man under the legal limit.

Police stopped Benjamin Peter Mackley for a roadside breath test at 12.30am on December 4, 2021.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court Mackley had told police he drank seven mid-strength beers at Langford’s Hotel in East Mackay.

The breath test on Sydney St returned a 0.88 per cent blood alcohol reading.

Mackley said he had completed his Responsible Service of Alcohol over Christmas period to further educate himself about the dangers of drink-driving.

He was fined $750 and lost his licence for six months.

A conviction was recorded.

Joshua Ian Laity

Joshua Ian Laity, who “never got around to getting my licence”, will lose it after being stopped for drink-driving on January 21, 2022.

The 30-year-old provisional driver was almost twice the legal open-licence limit when he was stopped for a breath test.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Laity recorded a 0.90 per cent BAC during the 6pm breath test on Malcomson St.

An Ergon subcontractor, Laity said he would lose his job if he lost his licence, but Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he chose to drink and then drive.

“What part of zero don’t you understand?” Mr Dwyer said.

“Zero means zero.”

Laity was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for four months. A conviction was not recorded.

Cameron Edward Treacy

A Mackay painter’s afternoon beers will cost him some work after driving over the legal alcohol limit.

Cameron Edward Treacy was stopped on Andergrove Rd for a breath test on December 23, 2021.

The 4.06pm test returned a reading of 0.077 per cent BAC.

Treacy pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was fined $400 and suspended from driving for one month.

A conviction was not recorded.

Fatush Wilson Ngonya

A Mackay mother said she was concerned a conviction would affect her visa application after she was caught drink-driving.

Fatush Wilson Ngonya was tested for drink-driving after police found her in a parked car in the middle of Debbiesue Dr, Mount Pleasant.

The 9.15pm test on October 23, 2021, returned a reading of 0.132.

Ngonya said her family resided in Denmark, and she was worried the conviction would mean she would be deported.

After pleading guilty, she was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.