Revealed: Drink or drug drivers in the Southern Downs exposed

From a boozed up driver who crashed his truck to a woman who was nabbed drunk driving leaving a carpark next to a venue, here’s the latest round of drink or drug drivers busted around the region.

From a boozed up driver who crashed his truck to a woman who was nabbed drunk driving leaving a carpark, here’s the latest round of drink or drug drivers busted around the region.

CONVICTIONS RECORDED

• A man who crashed his vehicle while intoxicated has faced court.

Andrew Joseph Stuart pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court on July 3 to driving over the middle alcohol limit.

About 3pm on March 23, police were alerted as a white B double rolled off the Cunningham Highway at Tregony, following a near collision with a caravan.

Authorities believe the caravan veered into the opposite lane, causing the truck, driven by Stuart, to veer off the road.

Police responded to the crash, and the 35-year-old returned a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.106 BAC.

The court was told the father of five had become depressed after the death of a family member, and had been self medicating with drugs and alcohol since.

His drinking “spiralled” following the death of a close friend in February.

Magistrate Andrew Cridland said the offending was compounded by the fact Stuart was working while the offence occurred.

“In those circumstances, it should be zero BAC, the reading is quite high in these circumstances.

Stuart was sentenced to a 12 month probation order, and was suspended from driving for five months.

Convictions were recorded.

• A Warwick driver was nabbed by police for driving while drugs were present in his saliva while unaware his licence had been suspended.

Luke Anthony Fuller pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system, as well as a charge of driving unlicensed on Monday, July 10.

The 38-year-old was intercepted at Woodridge by highway patrol officers just before 10am on May 18, who quickly discovered the man’s licence was suspended in April.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Grafton told the court the man told officers at the scene he was not aware his licence had been suspended, and had no idea he had been driving unlicensed.

A roadside test revealed Fuller’s saliva was positive for methamphetamine and cannabis.

Fuller, representing himself, told the court that he smoked weed for ADHD, but was unsure how the meth entered his system, suggesting he was “spiked” with the drug.

“I was not aware I had a suspended licence,” Fuller told Mr Cridland.

Fuller received a $750 fine and was suspended from driving for nine months.

NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED

• For one Warwick provisional driver, getting behind the wheel after a night at the pub proved a costly affair.

Bridgette Lee Harland pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit on July 3 in Warwick Magistrates Court.

The 19-year-old, who was on a P2 licence, was busted immediately as she pulled out of a carpark in front of police at 2.30am on May 23.

Harland blew a reading of 0.135 BAC after celebrating an 18th birthday at a pub.

Harland’s defence lawyer told the court she was “remorseful for her actions” and had previous arrangements to get home which fell through and made the “foolish” decision to drive home.

Magistrate Andrew Cridland remarked that Harland was still relatively young and had no criminal or traffic history and took that into account during sentencing.

“A reading of 0.135 is very close to a high range drink driving reading, but I will give benefit to you,” he said.

Harland received a $750 fine. No convictions were recorded.