Amanda Jane Jolly: Stanthorpe mum faces court for high range drink driving

A Granite Belt mum who rolled her car denied having a ‘problem with alcohol’ during her court appearance for drink driving.

A Granite Belt mum who got behind the wheel after a boozy afternoon, crashing her car in the process, has faced court.

Amanda Jane Jolly pleaded guilty in Stanthorpe Magistrates Court on Wednesday to high range drink driving.

The 34-year-old, who represented herself, told the court she was “very regretful” and had “full acknowledgment” of her actions.

The court was told that on December 29, 2022, police responded to a single vehicle crash in the afternoon on Old Warwick Rd, The Summit, and quickly identified Jolly as the driver of the vehicle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Grafton said when officers arrived on the scene they saw the vehicle “on its side” and Jolly was taken into custody provide a blood sample.

Local mum Amanda Jane Jolly fronted Stanthorpe Magistrate Court on Wednesday

The teacher’s aide student returned a reading of 0.183, and claimed the reason for the trip was to get medication for her son.

“I had to run and get my son’s medication, that’s the only reason I put myself in that situation,” Jolly told magistrate Virginia Sturgess.

“I see you have some high-range drink driving before, do you have a problem with alcohol?” Ms Sturgess said.

Jolly denied the suggestion, and said she “likes a drink from time to time”.

Ms Sturgess told Jolly that all the inconvenience and consequences from her actions “could have been avoided by not drink driving”.

“‘Accidents’ are a misused word, traffic crashes occur for a reason, very rarely is it an accident, it’s caused by driver behaviour and being under the influence of alcohol is one of the big reasons you had the crash,” Ms Sturgess said.

“It’s extremely fortunate that the only vehicle involved was yours and not another person, people are sharing the road with you and they’re entitled to believe that you’re fit and capable of sharing the road with them.

“It’s completely unfair to inflict on other road users and put them at risk because you feel the need to pick something up.”

Ms Sturgess told Jolly she was “concerned” regarding her traffic history, in particular two other high-range offences, and Jolly “should well and truly know the risks and consequences of driving with this much alcohol on board”.

Jolly received a $1200 fine, was disqualified from driving for eight months and was subject to an interlock device.