Lachlan Evan Earley pleads guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to mid-range drink driving

A 22-year-old who wanted to save a few dollars by driving home after a night out was busted drink driving in what his lawyer described as “the most expensive Uber he’s never taken”.

A 22-year-old Toowoomba man who was caught drink-driving told police he decided to drive to save money on an Uber.

“It’s the most expensive Uber he’s never taken,” solicitor Jack Marshall told Toowoomba Magistrates Court regarding his client Lachlan Evan Earley.

Earley’s white Toyota was pulled over by a police patrol about 2.38am on October 22, as he drove on Herries Street, police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court.

Lachlan Evan Earley pleaded guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on December 20, 2022, to a drink-driving charge.

The 22-year-old told police he was driving home and blew a breath alcohol reading of 0.129, Mr Brewster-Webb said.

Earley pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit but not over the high alcohol limit.

Mr Marshall told the court his client was an apprentice cabinet maker and the loss of driver’s licence would impact on his work, and may even cost him his job.

Half of his client’s pay went in rent and on this night he foolishly decided to drive home to save money on an Uber fare, he said.

His client had since completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program course and had been off the road for two months since his licence was suspended that night.

Magistrate Kay Philipson ordered the conviction not be recorded and fined Earley $500 and disqualified him from driving for three months.

Originally published as Lachlan Evan Earley pleads guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to mid-range drink driving