Tom Bradley Saunders charged with drink driving and driving without due care

An 18-year-old has learned their lesson not to hoon after being busted burning rubber in the middle of the night with too many drinks in his system.

Tom Bradley Saunders appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday.

An 18-year-old caught hooning in Cannonvale after too many drinks has learned his fate in court.

Police conducting patrols in Cannonvale in the early hours of November 2, 2024, discovered multiple tyre marks swerving across Galbraith Park Road and a strong smell of rubber, Proserpine Magistrates Court heard.

At around 3.25am, police intercepted 18-year-old Tom Bradley Saunders who admitted to causing the burnouts.

Subsequent breath testing returned a positive result of 0.070 grams of alcohol.

Saunders was initially charged with driving over the general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit while holding a probationary license and dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance but after submissions were made to prosecution the dangerous operation charges were discharged and Saunders was instead charged with the offence of driving without due care and attention.

The court heard Galbraith Park Road was a thoroughfare for early morning commuters, particularly workers from Whitsunday Food Service which operates at that time.

Magistrate Rees said Saunders was lucky he only damaged the road.

“I know you’re 18 and I know 18 year olds don’t normally think about their actions but you need to start thinking about your actions, because there are consequences and you’re lucky this time that nobody else was involved,” he said.

“You were using your vehicle, effectively hooning, whilst you had grog on board and passengers on board, so not only putting their lives in danger, but the public’s in danger.”

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosemary Varley appeared as duty lawyer and said Saunders acknowledged his actions were foolish and added the court process had been “eye-opening” to him.

Saunders pleaded guilty to both charges and was disqualified from holding a license for three months and fined $1350, no conviction was recorded.

“Don’t be stupid in the future,’ warned Magistrate Rees.

“You’re an adult now, behave like one.

“You’re given a licence which is an adult thing.

“You need to start behaving like one and take your obligations seriously.”