Samuel Dowling: Emu Park man caught driving while drinking vodka

An Emu Park man had already downed about six UDL cans when police caught him still drinking during a late-night drive in Yeppoon.

Samuel Kenneth Dowling pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 1 to drink-driving.

A man caught driving late at night in Yeppoon while drinking a vodka can had already downed about six UDLs.

Samuel Kenneth Dowling pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 1 to drink-driving.

Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said on November 18 at 11.35pm, police intercepted the 30-year-old driving at Barlows Hill, Yeppoon.

Ms Smith said Dowling was the only person in the vehicle.

“Police observed an open can of Vodka UDL which (Dowling) confirmed he was drinking while driving,” Ms Smith said.

The prosecutor said Dowling told police that he had drank about six Vodka UDLs between 7pm and when he was stopped by police.

The Emu Park man recorded a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.111.

The court heard that Dowling had a prior drink-driving offence on his history from 2020 which was “a similar reading.”

A self-represented Dowling told acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead he worked for an earthmoving company at Gracemere.

“That job runs out in February and after that it’s (licence disqualification) going to be a bit of a drama for me, which can’t be helped – it’s my fault,” Dowling said.

“I don’t really want to get out of the game I’m in.”

Dowling added that he would have to employ someone to get him to and from work during his licence disqualification period.

Mr Muirhead fined Dowling $1000 and disqualified him from driving for five months.