Capalaba taxi driver Rosalind June shocks police with ‘very, very high’ drink drive reading at station

A shocking drink drive at a bayside police station has brought an end to a 71-year-old taxi driver’s 50-year career.

A 71-year-old with 50 years’ experience driving taxis will retire her licence after driving to a police station while nearly five times the legal alcohol limit.

Appearing with a broken leg (unrelated) at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Rosalind June of Capalaba pleaded guilty to a single charge of driving while under the influence of liquor.

The court heard June had been drinking sherry on November 25 last year while struggling with the after effects of a road rage incident from a week before, when she decided to get behind the wheel.

Members of the public observed her crashing into parking structures at Capalaba Police Station while attempting to park, and walking unsteadily into the station.

Officers smelled liquor on her breath with tests confirming she had a breath-alcohol content of 0.241 per cent, or just shy of five times the limit.

It followed a previous high-range drink driving offence in 2014 when she had a BAC of 0.189 per cent.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Duncan Blackburn said the defendant’s “very, very high” reading had put herself and the community at risk.

Rosalind June, 71, leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Marcel Baum.

“The community is sick and tired of this type of behaviour,” Sen Constable Blackburn said.

The court heard the state road toll as of Sunday stood at 19 fatalities, on par with last year, which itself was a record period for deaths on Queensland roads.

Defence solicitor Bruce Johnstone explained his client had become “re-traumatised” while drinking on the day and had attempted to return an incorrect computer drive given to her by police relating to a previous road rage incident she was subjected to.

Mr Johnstone said the incident, and other unrelated health matters, would end her taxi driving career.

“She has transferred that vehicle to her de facto partner; she understands that she will never drive again,” Mr Johnstone said.

“She has been a good upstanding citizen, driving taxis for 50 years and putting up with all levels of society for all that time.”

Two character references were tendered to the court describing June as a community-minded woman who treated elderly passengers with especially good care.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta warned of the obsessive effect alcohol can have on those who struggle with its abuse.

June was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Ms Vasta spared her a criminal conviction in case she should choose to return to taxi driving.