P-plater clocked at 160kmh ‘freaked out’ when police appeared in mirror
A red P-plate driver who drove more than 60kmh over the speed limit in the middle of the night, despite not being allowed to drive at night, said she “freaked out” when police pulled her up. Her actions were slammed as a “gross example of contempt for the law” in court.
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Zooming across the Logan Mwy at 160kmh, in the dead of night, with no P-plates attached, Maddison Williams panicked when she saw police lights and sirens in her mirrors.
Instead of pulling over immediately, the 21-year-old continued to drive over the speed limit until officers pulled up alongside her and urged her to slow down.
On Monday, Williams was taken off the road for a year for what Magistrate Shearer called her “contempt for the rights and safety of other road users”.
Williams pleaded guilty at Richlands Magistrates Court to failing to stop, speeding, driving with no plates attached and not complying with the requirements of her P1 licence.
The court was told police activated lights and sirens when she was clocked driving 160kmh along the Logan Mwy at 3am on March 15.
Williams did not have red P-plates attached to her car and was not allowed to drive at night.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Shane Stephenson said Williams knew the speed limit was 100kmh but did not stop because she was scared.
Defence lawyer Siobhan French said the 21-year-old “just freaked out” after picking up a friend earlier that night.
Williams had since completed a traffic offenders’ program, but Ms French asked for no conviction to be recorded as it would affect Williams’ employment prospects.
Magistrate Shearer convicted and fined her $2000 and disqualified her from driving for 12 months.
“When you’re on a P1 licence, doing more than 100kmh with no P-plates attached at night, it is a gross example of your contempt for the law,” Magistrate Shearer said.
“You displayed contempt for the rights and safety of other road users, who may have had bad luck of being in your way.
“A mere QTOP course is not sufficient … putting you on one is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.”