Why three drink-drivers received a harsher penalty

Magistrate slams a low-range drink-driver over his shocking traffic history.

Three Mackay drink-drivers have paid the price for their poor decision.

A MACKAY magistrate has slammed a low-range drink-driver over his shocking traffic history saying he “shouldn’t have a licence”.

Michael James Lockyer was stopped on Mackay Bucasia Rd on June 27 this year for a random breath test and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.058 per cent.

“You ever think of taking your foot off the accelerator?” Magistrate Damien Dwyer asked him.

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Mackay Magistrates Court heard the 23 year old had lost 18 points since his last drink-driving incident and 30 points in total.

“You shouldn’t have a licence,” Mr Dwyer said.

The court heard the minimal and usual disqualification period for this type of reading was one month, but Mr Dwyer said Lockyer would get four months.

He was also fined $710 and a conviction was recorded.

Three men pleaded guilty to low-range drink-driving in the Mackay region.

* IF Brady James Ross had waited “five more minutes”, he probably would have been fine.

The court heard he had sunk about five or six beers from noon that day and was on his way out.

Ross said he had seen on social media there was road side breath testing on his route into the city so he had blown into his personal “breatho” three times returning 0.044 and 0.043 per cent readings.

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But when police later stopped him before 9pm on July 10 on Mackay Eungella Rd his reading was 0.05 per cent.

Mr Dwyer said he accepted Ross tried, but that he had to take into account the drink-driving offence from last year.

He was fined $850 and disqualified for three months. A conviction was not recorded.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer warned all three men driving on a disqualified licence would extend any ban by a further two years.

* HAYDEN John Wakefield was pulled over at midnight on July 11 on Daly St at Marian and returned a 0.091 per cent reading – nearly twice the legal limit.

The apprentice electrician said there was “no excuse” and he had “poor judgment” on the night.

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He was fined $710 and disqualified from driving for four months. A conviction was not recorded.

“Don’t drive, it’s not worth it,” Mr Dwyer said.

All three pleaded guilty to low-range drink-driving and were warned driving on a disqualified licence would extend any ban by a further two years.

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