Drink drivers face Maroochydore Magistrates Court for driving over the legal limit
A Coast driver told police she’d consumed about 20 vodka mixed drinks the day of Big Pineapple Festival before deciding to drive her car.
Police & Courts
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There were four people caught driving on Coast roads with alcohol in their system who pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, June 14.
Talea Margaret Anne Szabo, 24, blew 0.190 after police saw she had parked on the median strip at the intersection of Maroochydore Road and Pike Street at Kunda Park about 11.30pm on May 22.
The fashion marketing student said she had consumed about 20 vodka mixes while drinking with friends on the day of Big Pineapple Festival.
She was fined $1000, disqualified from driving for nine months and a conviction was recorded.
Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said if Szabo hadn't shown to the court a high level of remorse, having completed the drink driving program and providing glowing character references, she would have been looking at a higher disqualification period.
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Sam Beaven, 33, was convicted of his fourth drink driving offence on Monday.
The tradesman blew 0.134 after being stopped by police on Elizabeth St in Coolum on May 29.
Mr McLaughlin said it was time Beaven started "showing a bit more maturity" after he was caught driving more than two-and-a-half times over the legal limit.
Beaven was convicted and fined $800.
He was also disqualified from driving for eight months.
James William Stinson, 48, was charged with drink driving after crashing his car into his neighbour's retaining wall on Suncoast Beach Road at Mount Coolum.
Stinson told police he'd been driving "a little fast" when he lost control coming around a corner and went into his neighbour's yard about 7pm on May 20.
The chef said he'd drunk three cans of beer before the incident, which resulted in a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.134.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Stinson's car was written off after he did $13,000 worth of damage to the vehicle.
Mr McLaughlin said Stinson was "fortunate" to have not been charged with further offences arising from damage to his neighbour's property.
He was convicted, fined $600 and disqualified from driving for six months.
Emanual Ian Stobbs, 26, pleaded guilty to drink driving.
The court heard surf lifesavers had called police after they discovered a car had crashed on a beach access lane on North Shore Road at Twin Waters about 10am on May 24.
The vehicle had blocked their access to the beach.
Stobbs, who was found standing next to the car with the keys in his hand, had told police he'd driven down the access lane to check out the beach.
He said he crashed into a fence and a council sign on his way back, which resulted in his car getting bogged in the sand.
He blew 0.101 after telling police he'd had two six packs of beer and some wine.
He was convicted, fined $500 and disqualified from driving for five months.
Originally published as Drink drivers face Maroochydore Magistrates Court for driving over the legal limit
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