‘I vaguely remember’: Drink driver busted twice in two hours

A Sunshine Coast drink driver was caught twice in less than two hours after she narrowly missed a police officer trying to avoid an RBT site.

A woman who was caught drink driving twice in less than two hours.

A DRINK driver caught twice in the space of two hours nearly took out a police officer in her attempts to avoid a second RBT site.

Emelita Susan Hall pleaded guilty to five charges in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court today by telephone, including drink driving.

“Remember the 25th of March you got caught twice drink driving?” asked Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist.

“I vaguely remember,” Hall replied.

Police prosecutor Brendan Newman told the court on March 25, 2018 at 12.55am, police intercepted Hall on Anzac Ave, Maroochydore.

The court heard police could detect a strong smell of alcohol coming from Hall’s breath, admitting that she had consumed two rum and cokes.

After breathalysed, she returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.090 and issued a 24-hour suspension notice.

The same day at 2.20am, police were conducting breath tests at a static interception site in Maroochydore and saw Hall approach the site at speed.

“Police have given a hand signal requiring the driver of the black Honda to stop at the site but the black Honda has continued through the static site without making any attempt to slow, narrowly missing a police officer,” Sgt Newman said.

Police then saw Hall tailgating another vehicle and weaving in and out of the road. After putting on their sirens, Hall came to a stop just outside the Waterfront Hotel.

“Police have observed the female to be in a dazed state, sweating, slurring her words and did not know where she was going or where she was at the time” Sgt Newman said.

After being taken to the Maroochydore watch house, she returned a positive drug test, revealed to be medication and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.054.

Hall’s lawyer, Jacob Pruden, told the court Hall had been in a mental health rehabilitation unit for the past 18 months and should be released into the community next month.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said Hall was lucky to not be charged with evading police, considering the facts of how she avoided the static interception site.

“Hopefully you will be out and a responsible member of the community soon,” he said.

“Always,” Hall replied.

He fined Hall $1400 and disqualified her from driving for nine months.

Originally published as