Traffic offenders face Yeppoon Magistrates Court

A mother of two banned from driving until February next year has had a further two years added on top of her disqualification - all for the sake of a Macca’s frappé run. See who else was caught offending on our roads.

A mother of two banned from driving until February next year has had a further two years added on top of her disqualification - all for the sake of a Macca’s frappé run.

The following people pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on September 15 to traffic offending.

Mark David Frederick Lauritz, 58, blew a reading of .073 when he was caught drink-driving at Yeppoon on September 1.

The court heard Lauritz was a taxi driver and his good driving record allowed him to apply for a work licence which was granted.

Lauritz was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Haley Lillian Ann Delahunty.

Haley Lillian Ann Delahunty, 28, was caught driving while court disqualified at Yeppoon on September 1.

The court heard police were patrolling at 12.30am when they saw Delahunty driving a white Jeep and she was intercepted.

Police checks revealed Delahunty was court disqualified until February 7, 2023.

The court heard Delahunty had a four-page traffic history and she was dealt with in Mackay Magistrates Court in June for unlicensed driving (demerit-point suspended).

A solicitor said Delahunty was a mother of two who had undertaken rehabilitation programs, and documents supporting that were tendered in court.

The solicitor said on the night of the offending, Delahunty was driving to McDonald’s to get a frappé.

Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead placed Delahunty on probation for 18 months and disqualified her from driving for two years.

Mr Muirhead explained to Delahunty the two-year disqualification would start when her current suspension ended on February 7 next year.

Eric Luke Blythe-Darge, 24, blew a reading of .126 when he was caught drink-driving at Yeppoon on August 27.

As well as the drink-driving charge, Blythe-Darge pleaded guilty to driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Representing himself in court, Blythe-Darge told Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead that he was driving a company vehicle at the time and he was not aware it was unregistered.

Blythe-Darge said he had no excuse for drink-driving.

With a prior drink-driving offence on his history from 2021, Blythe-Darge was fined $1400 and disqualified from driving for eight months.

Jayde Louise Lucht.

P-plater Jayde Louise Lucht, 19, was caught drink-driving at Yeppoon on August 28.

She blew a reading of .036 when she was required to have a zero blood alcohol limit.

With no previous history of this sort, Lucht was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for three months.