Six drink drivers sentenced in Maroochydore court
A healthcare student who fractured his spine after flipping his car while drunk has avoided conviction alongside five other drink drivers sentenced at Maroochydore court.
An electrician and healthcare student have been sentenced for drink driving after appearing in Maroochydore Magistrates Court alongside four other offenders on Tuesday.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis sentenced a total of six drink drivers in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
Conviction recorded
Stephen James Byles
Electrician, Stephen James Byles, 44, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving over the general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit.
The court was told Byles had drunk a third of a bottle of vodka when he was intercepted by police on patrol at Mountain Creek at about 6pm on November 9.
Police prosecutor sergeant Leonie Scott told the court Byles blew a blood alcohol reading of .073.
Solicitor for Byles, Steven Brough, said it was important the 44-year-old electrician be granted a work licence to allow him to continue his business delivering medical equipment to hospitals.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis ordered Byles pay a $500 fine and disqualified him from driving for three months.
A conviction was recorded.
Emily Anna Rose Cassar
Emily Anna Rose Cassar, 22, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence when she crashed her car driving from Bundaberg to Birtinya in July.
Sergeant Scott told the court the car was travelling on the Bruce Highway when other drivers noticed Ms Cassar driving at different speeds and swaying in the lane.
The car then crashed into the guardrail and Cassar was treated by paramedics.
The court was told Cassar blew a blood alcohol reading of .156.
Cassar told the court she currently worked as a babysitter and was training to become a counsellor.
Ms Ellis sentenced the 22-year-old to an $800 fine and an eight-month disqualification from driving.
A conviction was recorded.
Kazahri Stone Doody
Kazahri Stone Doody pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit but not over the high alcohol limit.
Sergeant Scott told the court Doody was driving to the Yandina pub when he was involved in a two-car crash at Ninderry.
The P-plater blew a blood alcohol reading of .108.
Doody told the court he regretted what he had done and was thankful no one was injured in the accident.
Ms Ellis ordered Doody pay a $650 fine and be disqualified from driving for four months.
A conviction was recorded.
Samuel Graham Howe
Samuel Graham Howe, 28, pleaded guilty to driving through a red arrow and driving over the general alcohol limit.
Sergeant Scott told the court Howe drove through the red arrow, resulting in a two-car crash on Aerodrome Rd on October 20 about 7pm.
The court was told he was driving home from the Caloundra Tavern at the time of the crash.
Howe blew a blood alcohol reading of .058.
The 28-year-old told the court he “regrets my decisions”.
Ms Ellis ordered Howe pay a $550 fine and disqualified him from driving for one month.
A conviction was recorded.
Kane Armitage Murphy
Kane Armitage Murphy, 43, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving over the general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit.
The 43-year-old was involved in a two-car crash in Diddillibah on November 7.
Sergeant Scott told the court Murphy was not the cause of the accident, but was driving over the limit at the time of the crash.
Murphy asked the court to consider his broken arm and loss of his car in the crash when punshining him.
Ms Ellis fined Murphy $500 and issued a three-month disqualification from driving.
A conviction was recorded.
No conviction recorded
Billy Jake Vang Peders Schiotz
Healthcare student, Billy Jake Vang Peders Schiotz, 24, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Sergeant Scott told the court Schiotz blew a blood alcohol reading of .172 after emergency services responded to a single car crash just before midnight on June 21.
The court was told the 24-year-old was on his way home from having cocktails at a university function at the Savvy Squire when he flipped his car several times at Sippy Downs.
He was taken to the Sunshine Coast university Hospital, suffering from a fractured spine and bruised lung.
Ms Ellis fined Schiotz $1100 and disqualified him from driving for eight months.
No conviction was recorded.
