Toowoomba drink or drug drivers busted behind the wheel in court

Public transport could be busier than usual with a host of drink or drug drivers off the road this week after losing their licence in court.

Picture: Natasha Emeck

With reasons ranging from medical marijuana mishaps to “triggering” comments from passengers, these are some of the people busted for drink or drug driving in Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

While many other drug or drink driving cases remain pending, here is a list of those sentenced this week:

CONVICTION RECORDED

Suspension extension

Dylan Jackson Reed already under a two year licence suspension when police caught him red-handed behind the wheel with drugs in his system.

The Toowoomba man pleaded guilty to driving without a licence while disqualified under court order and driving unlicensed while a relevant drug was present in his saliva before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard roadside and subsequent testing indicated Mr Reed had cannabis in his system while driving.

Police also confirmed he was under a September 11 court ordered suspension which was in place until 2027.

Mr Reed opted to submit to a probation order rather than pay a hefty fine despite denying any issue with drugs.

He was sentenced to nine months probation and disqualified from driving for two years and six months.

Convictions were recorded.

NO CONVICTION RECORDED

Panicked crash

After being called to a two vehicle crash, police discovered a frantic Shayla Rose Harlow sitting next to her overturned car only days after she had been released from care.

Ms Harlow pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard the 24-year-old had been driving in Eagleby on December 8, 2023 when she was “triggered” by a passenger’s comments, causing her to crash into another vehicle and flip her car.

“She described she lost consciousness,” Police prosecutor Julia Wheaton said.

“She indicated to police she had been drinking.”

Ms Harlow was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital where a blood test showed a blood alcohol reading of 0.193, more than three times the legal limit.

Her solicitor Phil Stainton from Legal Aid Queensland said she had been receiving treatment for mental health around the time of the incident.

“My client instructs her mental health was still not in a good place and that is the reason she had consumed a large amount of alcohol on this day,” he said.

“She was discharged three days prior to the crash.

“She was released with no safe place to live.”

He argued Ms Harlow had no similar charges on her history and was receptive to an order of probation.

“(Ms Harlow) believes she would benefit from some further supervision,” he said.

Ms Harlow was sentenced to six months probation and disqualified from driving for seven months.

No convictions were recorded.

“Painful” mistake

Toowoomba man Austin Patrick Harp made a costly mistake when he chose to drive home after a family get together in September this year.

He pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit after returning a blood alcohol reading of 0.071 per cent.

The young tradie was previously convicted of drink driving less than five years ago.

Mr Harp, through his solicitor, said he had made the mistake of consuming three drinks instead of two when visiting his grandparents before getting behind the wheel.

He asked the court for leniency, claiming a long disqualification period would be a great “pain” as he lived twenty minutes from his work.

“This is what does happen with one bad choice,” Magistrate Michelle Dooley retorted.

Mr Harp was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

No conviction recorded.

Good night’s sleep, bad day’s drive

A Toowoomba man’s sleeping aid landed him in trouble when he chose to drive the following day.

Edrich Gerhardus Genis pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva after returning a positive roadside drug test for cannabis.

The court heard Mr Genis, who held a medical marijuana prescription to aid with sleep, believed he would be safe to drive despite smoking the drug the night before.

He was previously convicted for drug driving in 2022 and fined $700 at that time.

“Be aware … there are a range of medications that have instructions which say you can’t operate heavy machinery or vehicles after you have consumed them and this is exactly the same,” Magistrate Michelle Dooley said.

Mr Genis was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months.

No convictions were recorded.

Drug trouble

Wesley John Irwin, 46, was busted by police driving with multiple illegal drugs in his system twice over.

Mr Irwin pleaded guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday to four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva and one count of possessing utensils used in conjunction with drugs.

The court heard Mr Irwin had returned positive roadside drug tests indicating methamphetamine and cannabis in his system on one occasion and unidentified illicit substances on another.

He was also found in possession of dangerous drugs which he claimed was for personal use.

Solicitor Alysha Jacobsen said Mr Irwin was struggling with recent drug dependency following a marriage breakdown.

“The mother took their (daughter) away and he hasn’t seen her for six months nor has he been able to talk to her,” Ms Jacobsen said.

“Unfortunately he has turned to drug use.”

Ms Jacobsen made clear Mr Irwin had no prior convictions for drug driving and had an extremely limited and dated criminal history.

She said he had engaged professional help in order to become the father he wanted to be for his young daughter.

“He does intend to continue with his counselling,” she said.

“He knows that he shouldn’t and couldn’t have a relationship with his (daughter) until he his clean.”

Mr Irwin was sentenced to six month probation and disqualified from driving for two months.

No convictions were recorded.

Medical drama

In a cautionary tale to always read the label, a Toowoomba man has been caught drug driving after a medical miscalculation.

Stephen Troy Power pleaded guilty to one count of driving while a relevant drug was present in his saliva before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday after police detected cannabis in his system during a roadside drug test.

Mr Power told the court he had recently been prescribed medical marijuana and believed a night’s sleep would be enough time for the drug to dissipate.

“Obviously not and obviously I was in the wrong,” Mr Power said.

“Be mindful of these things because it interferes with you keeping your licence,” Magistrate Michelle Dooley said.

He was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for one months.

No conviction was recorded.

Lost in the mail

When police caught Brent Jonathon Johnson drug driving on a Friday afternoon, he was supposedly shocked to learn his licence had already been suspended.

Mr Johnson pleaded guilty to driving without a licence while SPER suspended and driving unlicensed while a relevant drug was present in his saliva before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Mr Johnson had been subject to a State Penalties Enforcement Registry suspension put in place in November last year when police intercepted him on the roads on September 13.

The Toowoomba man also submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive reading for cannabis in his saliva.

Mr Johnson claimed he was unaware of his suspension despite police confirming he was notified via text and post.

He was fined a total of $600 and disqualified from driving for two months.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Toowoomba drink or drug drivers busted behind the wheel in court