Dayne John Smith pleads guilty to high-range drink driving in Ballina court

A Northern Rivers tradie off the road for high-range drink driving “was only moving his employee’s work vehicle 100m to a safe place”, a court heard.

The court heard Smith was moving his work vehicle to a safer place.

A Ballina tradesman caught high-range drink driving at more than three times the legal alcohol limit “was only moving his employee’s work vehicle 100m to a safe place”, a court heard.

Dayne John Smith faced Ballina Local Court on Thursday pleading guilty to high-range drink driving.

The 24-year-old was pulled over by police on River St in Ballina about 8.30pm on February 9.

“He came under notice at the time as the vehicle did not have the headlights on,” according to court documents.

Smith told officers: “I stuffed up, I’m f--ked”.

Smith was pulled over by police on River St in Ballina. Picture: Supplied

Smith recorded a positive reading on a roadside breath test and a follow-up result of 0.159 at Ballina Police Station.

Smith told police he had been drinking since 3pm.

“He believes he drank around seven or eight schooners of full strength at The Great Northern without consuming food,” police facts state.

Smith’s licence was suspended immediately.

Defence lawyer Tenika Vakauta told the court Smith had a limited criminal history and no intention to drive on the day.

“He was only moving his employee’s work vehicle 100m to a safe place,” she said.

“The truck had expensive tools on it.”

Ballina Police Station. Picture: Savannah Pocock

The court heard Smith completed the traffic offenders program after offending.

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden agreed Smith drove a short distance.

She said Smith was a young man with no drug or alcohol-related offending in his past.

He was disqualified from driving for nine months and fined $600.