Drink and drug drivers face Maroochydore Magistrates Court for driving offences
One driver was stopped by police after doing a late night Maccas run, while the court heard another had already lost 94 demerit points in four years and still was on the road.
Police & Courts
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There were 11 people caught driving while under the influence of either drugs or alcohol who pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, July 5.
Marc Jeffery Sutherland, 37, pleaded guilty to drug driving after he was stopped by police for a roadside drug test at Elizabeth Street, Coolum Beach, about 1.30pm on March 15.
He tested positive for marijuana.
Sutherland, who takes medical marijuana, said he now “realised it’s a risk” to drive after taking his medication.
He was convicted, fined $600 and disqualified from driving for nine months.
Haydyn James Cliff, 23, pleaded guilty on Monday to driving a car while over the middle alcohol limit but not over the high alcohol limit.
The court heard Cliff had been driving on Karawatha Drive, Mountain Creek at 3.05am on June 13 when police pulled him over for a random breath test.
The civil engineer recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.06 per cent.
He was convicted, fined $650 and disqualified from driving for four months other than for work purposes.
Benjamin Robert Lord, 24, pleaded guilty to driving on a provisional licence with marijuana in his system.
The court heard Lord, who had a medical prescription for cannabis, had been stopped for a roadside drug test on April 11 while driving on Sunshine Coast Motorway at Sippy Downs.
He told the court he now understood the length of time cannabis could stay in the system but “there was a lot of (red tape)”.
He was convicted, fined $600 and disqualified for six months from driving.
Matthew James Doyle, 33, pleaded guilty to drug driving and driving without a licence, having been disqualified because of a high speed suspension.
The chef said he regretted what he’d done and that he had “made a mistake” having not known about the disqualification.
He was convicted, fined $880 and disqualified from driving for nine months.
Latham James Alnajjar, 39, pleaded guilty to drug driving after he tested positive for marijuana in his system.
Police stopped Alnajjar about 8pm on May 3 while he was driving on Sunshine Coast Motorway, Pacific Paradise.
The court heard the electrician and yoga teacher had accumulated 94 demerit points over a four-year period, despite referring to himself as “a good driver”.
He was convicted, fined $600 and disqualified for a further two months from driving.
Nicole Ann Kimmich, 42, pleaded guilty to drug driving while holding a provisional license.
Kimmich tested positive for having methamphetamine and marijuana in her system when she was stopped by police at 11.20am on March 15 on Maroochydore Road, Maroochydore.
The court hear Kimmich had told police she had been at a party a few days before the incident and believed her drink had been spiked. She was convicted, fined $600 and disqualified for three months.
Gilles Riou, 37, pleaded guilty to driving over general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit.
He had been stopped about 9pm on May 27 by police on David Lowe Way, Bli Bli, for a random breath test.
He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.064.
The rental sales officer told the court he now had “a better understanding” that his body could only handle two red wines.
He was convicted, fined and disqualified for driving for three months but was issued a work license.
Rupesh Thapaliya, 25, pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit.
The court heard Thapaliya recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.06 after he drove on Maroochydore Road about 8.15am on May 25.
The court heard the disability support worker had drunk “four or five double black whiskies” the night before.
He was convicted, fined $450 and disqualified from driving for four months but was given a work licence.
April Diana Howard, 59, pleaded guilty to drug driving about 4.30pm on May 23 on Nicklin Way.
She had told police at the time she had recently used methamphetamine but “didn’t realise” the drug would still be in her system. She was convicted, fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months.
Garret Lee Hunt, 25, pleaded guilty to driving over general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit.
The court heard he’d been stopped by police after going through the McDonald’s drive through on David Lowe Way, Coolum, about 2.45am on June 8.
He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.054. He told the court that he felt a “little bit hungry” and decided to drive after a few drinks. He was convicted, fined $300 and disqualified from driving for one month.
Aaron James Reardon, 21, pleaded guilty to drug driving and driving without a licence on Ilkley Road, Tanawha, on May 22.
The court heard Reardon had a lengthy traffic history and had never renewed his licence after previously losing it for similar offences.
He was convicted, fined $900 and disqualified from driving for 13 months.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist warned Reardon “if you really want to see what the inside of Arthur Gorrie (prison) is, you drive again”.
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