Cameron Cartwright Meikle pleads guilty to driving under the influence, uninsured, unregistered vehicle

A Redland machinist fronted court for the first time, endangering his squeaky clean criminal record, after taking an insured, unregistered vehicle for a drunken joy ride.

Cameron Cartwright Meikle pleads guilty to driving under the influence, uninsured, unregistered vehicle.

A Redland machinist fitter tarnished his squeaky clean criminal history after he drove more than four times the legal alcohol limit in an uninsured and unregistered vehicle, after he court had disqualified him from driving.

Cameron Cartwright Meikle, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of drive uninsured vehicle, one count of driving without a licence disqualified by a court order, two counts of vehicles used on roads must be registered, one count of driving without a licence disqualified by a court order, one count of vehicles used on roads must be registered, one count of did drive under the influence.

The court heard Meikle, from Capalaba, had no criminal history and appeared before Cleveland Magistrates Court on April 29, 2024.

Police Prosecutor Daniel Agresta told the court police located Meikle driving while disqualified in an uninsured and unregistered Ford Focus on two occasions in March 2024.

“On March 16 2024 police attended a Ransome address in relation to another matter where the defendant had arrived earlier in his car and driven off to go to his Capalaba home address, he had driven while his license was disqualified by the court,” Sgt Agresta said.

“His vehicle was unregistered and unlicensed,” he said.

At 9.05am on April 30, 2023 Meikle was detected by police conducting patrols in Capalaba.

Sgt Agresta said Meikle drove past police who took up with him before conducting checks.

“He had a high level of alcohol in his system reading at 0.225,” Sgt Agresta said.

“He was in the same Ford Focus that was uninsured, unregistered and was driving with a disqualified license.

“What’s most concerning is if there was a traffic accident caused by defendant there would no opportunity to claim for medical expenses as he was uninsured,” he said.

Meikle, who represented himself, told the court he was very sorry and “made a number of poor decisions”.

“I’ve been through a lot of hard time and I am seeking help,” he said.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan said the charges were “very serious” and Meikle is lucky these charges are the worst outcome for his offending.

“While driving under the influence (of alcohol) while uninsured you could have killed someone,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“You could have caused a lot of harm, you won’t be driving for a long time,” she said.

Meikle was sentenced to 15 months of probation, disqualified from driving for four years and six months and fined $1000.

Convictions were recorded.