Hamilton Island drink drivers busted in police blitz
A senior director, doctor and yachtsman are among the latest boozed up golf buggy drivers to be fined following a police blitz on Hamilton Island.
Whitsunday
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A police blitz on Hamilton Island resulted in 30 people being charged for drink driving and again this week a further four have faced Whitsundays court for similar offences including a senior director, a doctor and a yachtsman.
The latest offences occurred during race week and follow five court cases in Proserpine the week before including that of a Victorian barrister was charged for drink driving while operating a golf buggy.
Whitsundays Police revealed at the time they had charged more than 30 people with drink driving offences and issued more than 20 traffic infringement notices as part of Operation Victor Boston, which is aimed at targeting road safety across Hamilton Island.
Conviction recorded
Benjamin Franklin Todter, 34
A Sydney manager of a boating company was told “short distance makes no difference” after he was caught drink driving a golf buggy on Hamilton Island while more than four times the alcohol limit.
Benjamin Franklin Todter pleaded guilty on Monday after he was caught with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.216.
Connolly Suthers solicitor Bille OToole told the court Todter had only intended to ride his golf buggy 200m, as he didn’t want to walk up the hill.
Magistrate Michelle Howard told Todter he was “lucky” no one was injured, “short distance or not”.
“Can I just say in this small local area, there has been numerous fatal accidents in the last couple of months,” Ms Howard told Todter.
The Whitsunday Isaac Mackay region has recorded 14 road deaths since January this year.
Todter was fined $1250 and his licence was disqualified for eight months.
Conviction not recorded
Sandrina Postorino, 52
A Sydney woman who runs a management company was caught drink driving more than two and a half times the legal alcohol limit on Melaleuca Dr on Hamilton Island at 11:18pm on August 26.
Sandrina Postorino who had told police officers she had consumed “a few drinks” earlier that evening was arrested as she drove a golf buggy.
She pleaded guilty on Monday to drink driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.131.
Magistrate Michelle Howard did not record a conviction as Postorino did not have a criminal or traffic record and had provided references and completed a QTOP course.
She was fined $600 and her licence disqualified for three months.
Adam Philip Gregory, 50
A LinkedIn ANZ Talent and Learning Solutions senior director was caught drink driving a golf buggy with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.072 on the Mango field corner on Hamilton Island on August 31.
Adam Philip Gregory who pleaded guilty in Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday told police officers he had been drinking the day before but thought he was fine driving the day after.
His solicitor told the court Gregory had work trips planned to the UK, the US and Japan in the next few weeks and asked Magistrate Michelle Howard to exercise her discretion in not recording a conviction so he would not have any issues with his travels.
Ms Howard acception the submission. Gregory was fined $350 and his licence was disqualified for one month.
Simon James Hanning, 53
A Sydney doctor who competed in Hamilton Island Race Week was caught drink driving on rum and coke on Acacia Dr, Hamilton Island on August 26.
Simon James Hanning pleaded guilty in Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday to driving a golf buggy with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.095.
His solicitor told the court Hanning had come from Sydney to face the court.
Magistrate Michelle Howard sentenced him to $600 and disqualified his licence for a month.
The conviction was not recorded.
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