Name and shame: Mackay drink and drug drivers

WHY I DROVE, YOUR HONOUR: A Macca’s run, ‘an honest mistake’, my car ‘grew wings and flew’.

A number of drink and drug drivers face Mackay Magistrates Court. Picture: iSTOCK

AN ICED-UP motorist told cops his car had "grown wings and flew" after he was spotted driving erratically.

Jermaine Marlon Tito Quakawoot had been spotted outside the Northern Beaches cop shop and officers were called.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard he was making "nonsensical statements" telling police his "car had grown wings and flew to the station".

The court heard he had ingested methylamphetamine the night before.

Quakawoot pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.

Defence solicitor Chris Colwill said his client recalled driving to the police station, going to the hospital and saying certain information.

The court heard Quakawoot had no history at all. He was fined $1420 and disqualified from driving for eight months. A conviction was not recorded.

 

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>> Chanay Marie Rabnott told the court it was "an honest mistake" when she was caught speeding and drink-driving on July 28.

She was travelling at 33kmh over the 100kmh speed limit when she attracted police attention on the Bruce Hwy at Pindi Pindi about 4.30pm.

The court heard she had been drinking at her aunt's house and returned a 0.074 per cent blood alcohol reading.

"I'm just honestly sorry, it's an honest mistake," Rabnott told Magistrate Damien Dwyer, who did not accept the excuse and pointed out her speeding initially attracted police attention.

"If you think that's the case you shouldn't have a licence and you're not going to have one," he said.

She pleaded guilty to speeding and low-range drink-driving, was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for four months. Convictions were not recorded.

 

>> Kim Dannatt said she "made a stupid mistake" when she was pulled over for drug-driving in September last year.

Police had been patrolling the Bakers Creek area when Dannatt was stopped on the Bruce Hwy for a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result for marijuana.

Mr Dwyer said her history was "quite good" and she told the court she had turned her life around since that day.

She was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months. A conviction was not recorded.

 

DRINK DRIVE: Mackay police and courts deal with numerous drink and drug drivers each year.

Matthew James Doyle said, "I messed up" after he pleaded guilty to mid-range drink-driving.

The 27-year-old driver had been on a Maccas run with a mate when he was pulled over and blew 0.081 per cent blood alcohol reading.

"I don't understand why anyone would drive to McDonalds at anytime let alone when you're full of grog … that's just me," Mr Dwyer said.

Mr Dwyer accepted Doyle's excellent history and said this must have been a "brain explosion".
Doyle was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months. A conviction was not recorded.

 

>> Tiaan Okert Strydom had knocked back about six beers before he was stopped on Eimeo Rd at Rural View on March 9.

His blood alcohol reading was 0.066 per cent.

He pleaded guilty to low-range drink-driving and was fined $500, disqualified for one month and a conviction was not recorded.

 

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>> Drug driver Christopher Raymond Smith was working with ice in his system when police stopped him on Mackay Bucasia Rd on February 20 this year.

When the court heard he kept his job, Mr Dwyer said "generous boss".

Smith pleaded guilty to drug-driving. He was fined $935 and disqualified from driving for six months. A conviction was not recorded.

 

>> Jim William Bull rocked up to court with an application for a work licence after he was busted drug-driving on February 25.

However because he had been disqualified in the past five years, the court heard he was not eligible.

Bull admitted to driving with marijuana in his system. He pleaded guilty to drug driving. The court heard he had a similar offence in 2016.

"Obviously a slow learner," Mr Dwyer said.

A conviction was recorded, he was fined $830 and disqualified from driving for four months.

Road side drug test

>> Dylan Winbank was stopped for a road side drug test on January 31 this year and returned a positive reading.

The court heard he had smoked marijuana the night before. He pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

A conviction was not recorded. He was fined $710 and disqualified for six months.
He was granted a work licence for the disqualification period.

 

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>> Michael Tekaioroto Fredr Tapsell was caught drink-driving in a safe but defective vehicle without a licence.

Police had been patrolling Harbour Rd on July 17 when Tapsell was stopped. He had been driving to Marian to pick up a mate before driving home.

The court heard the vehicle was too low and there were issues with the front windscreen tinting.

Tapsell also had a 0.057 per cent blood alcohol reading - the 19 year old had consumed five stubbies that night.

"You knew you were on a zero limit … you took the punt," Mr Dwyer said.

Tapsell pleaded guilty to the charges, was fined $900 and disqualified for three months.

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