Seve Steven Jarvin sentenced for drink driving offences

A professional yachtsman who says he wasn’t aware Hamilton Island golf buggies were considered like any other vehicle obstructed police officers as they asked for a breath test.

A man who didn’t want to be alcohol tested while driving a golf buggy on Hamilton Island claims he wasn’t aware of the rules. Picture: Andrew Caitens

A professional yachtsman who says he wasn’t aware of the rules for driving a golf buggy on Hamilton Island denied to have been the one driving the vehicle and obstructed police officers when he was asked to take a breath test.

Seve Steven Jarvin, 37, was arrested on Hamilton Island for a road side breath test that police officers were conducting during the island’s race week at 12:16am on August 21.

This comes as Whitsundays Police have revealed 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.

So far, at least 10 of these arrests were heard in front of Proserpine Magistrates Court.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said Jarvin had admitted to police he had a few drinks with his mates before he was asked do a breath test.

Police officers could see he had “bloodshot eyes” and smell “alcohol breath”.

Seve Steven Jarvin was in the Whitsundays for Hamilton Island Race Week. Picture: HIRW

Sergeant Myors said police tried to do the breath test five times but that Jarvin would not blow in the test properly and the police officer had to “restrain him back in his seat” after he “stood behind the officer and threatened her”.

Sergeant Myors said Jarvin kept repeating he wasn’t the one who had been driving while CCTV clearly showed he was.

Sergeant Myors said Jarvin had also failed to provide his name and address to police.

Defence solicitor Bill O’Toole told Magistrate Michelle Howard that Jarvin didn’t know golf buggies on Hamilton Island were considered like any other vehicle in Queensland.

Hamilton Island is a privately owned island that has roads but no cars, with its main form of transport being golf buggies that clients can hire.

The Hamilton Island Rules and Regulations specify that guests driving golf buggies must comply with Queensland road rules.

Mr O’Toole told the court Jarvin wasn’t the one who hired the golf buggy as it had been “made available for his use”.

Hamilton Island golf buggy. Picture: Contributed.

“I don’t believe he saw the damage waiver form that is provided when hiring a golf buggy on the island, (...) that clearly states the traffic penalties,” Mr O’Toole said.

Mr O’Toole told Magistrate Michelle Howard he wouldn’t repeat what she “probably has heard from other practitioners” amid the drink driving police blitz conducted on Hamilton Island.

Ms Howard told Jarvin the fact that he wasn’t aware of the rules with driving a golf buggy on Hamilton Island was not an excuse for refusing to co-operate with police.

Jarvin pleaded guilty in Proserpine Magistrates Court to failing to provide a breath test, failing to provide his name and address and to obstructing a police officer.

He was fined $1200 and his licence was disqualified for six months.