Eight drunk or drug drivers face Proserpine and Bowen courts

From a man more than five times the blood alcohol limit to another who lashed out at the court when she lost her licence, see the outrageous stories from our drink and drug-drivers.

Eight drunk or drug drivers have faced Proserpine and Bowen courts on Monday July 31 and Tuesday August 1.

From a driver more than five times the blood alcohol limit to another who lashed out at the court when her licence was scrapped, here are eight Whitsunday region drunk or drug-drivers.

TRAFFIC CONVICTION RECORDED:

Jade Courtnee Davis, 45

Jade Courtnee Davis outside Proserpine Magistrates Court

Jade Courtney Davis was more than five times the blood alcohol limit when she was arrested at 10:40pm on Sunday, July 26 along Waterson Way in Airlie Beach.

Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday July 31 heard Ms Davis had failed to provide a roadside breath test after police officers asked her “multiple times”.

She was arrested and taken to the Whitsunday Police Station where her test returned a blood alcohol concentration of 0.285.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosemary Varley said Davis had been on her “first night out” after an incident earlier in the year, when she fell 2.5m off her balcony.

Acting Magistrates Stephen Byrne told Davis she seemed to be a woman of intelligence but she “must have left it at the bar”.

Davis was fined $2000 and her driver’s licence was disqualified for 12 months.

James Stuart Robinson, 47

James Stewart Robinson drove back to his work shed from fishing at Midge Point on May 13 after drinking “a dozen of mid-strength beers”.

Police were alerted to Robinson’s drink-driving after his car got stuck on a dirt road and received minor damage to its front right-hand side.

Ms Varley said Robinson decided to sleep in his car overnight, after drinking more beers, as he was “unable to get out on his own” and had not contacted anyone for help.

Police arrived at 10:35pm and found a number of beer cans inside the car.

Upon testing Robinson’s breath, police found he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.115.

As his licence had already been suspended for two-and-a-half months since the offence, Robinson had his licence disqualified for a further three months. He also received a $650 fine.

Zacharie Caleb Smith

Zacharie Caleb Smith, who had a provisional licence, was caught driving under the influence of marijuana along Queens Rd in Bowen at 7:45am on June 15.

Smith, who faced the Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday, said he consumed marijuana four days prior to driving.

As this was his second drug-driving offence following one in 2019, he was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for four months.

Dean Howard, 31

Dean Howard was caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 along Dingo Beach Rd on July 22.

Ms Varley told Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday that Howard’s ability to drive was not questioned as he had been roadside tested at random.

She said Howard recognised he had made an “error in judgment”.

Mr Howard had previous drink driving offences with the latest from 2017.

He was sentenced to a $1050 fine and his licence was disqualified for six months.

Jean Alice Mazzitelli

Jean Alice Mazzitelli outside Bowen Magistrates Court. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Jean Alice Mazzitelli was caught driving over the middle alcohol limit along Williams St in Bowen on July 15.

Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday heard she had been speeding and then stopped abruptly at the roundabout.

When police tested her breath, she admitted to having “one too many glass(es) of wine” and returned a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15.

She was fined $950 and her licence was disqualified for nine months.

Ivy Florence Sutton

Ivy Florence Sutton outside Proserpine Magistrates Court. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Ivy Florence Sutton faced Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday for drink-driving on July 17.

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne rejected her application for a special hardship licence as she had committed a similar offence in the past five years.

She was sentenced to a $550 fine and her licence was disqualified for three months.

“You know, I’m gonna lose my job now. Thanks,” Ms Sutton told the court before leaving.

“I didn’t do it Ms Sutton,” Mr Byrne replied.

NO TRAFFIC CONVICTION RECORDED:

Jessica Judith Murphy

Jessica Judith Murphy pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana and methamphetamines along Shute Harbour Rd in Cannonvale on June 17.

Prosecutor Lachlan Perry told Proserpine Magistrates Court on July 31 the drug analysis certificate had not yet been received and the prosecution was basing their charges on “estimates” of what the drugs were.

Mr Byrne asked Murphy if she would confirm the presence of marijuana and methamphetamine in her blood at the time of the events and was she happy to move forward with sentencing, to which she agreed.

As it was her first offence, Murphy was fined $350 and her licence was disqualified for one month.