Byron Shire mayor Michael Lyon fails in bid to regain licence after drink drive charge

Byron Magistrate Karen Stafford wasn’t swayed by the mayor’s case to immediately get back behind the wheel. Here’s why.

Byron Shire mayor Michael Lyon leaves Byron Bay Local Court on July 11, after failing to have his licence suspension lifted following a drink driving charge.

Byron Shire mayor Michael Baden Lyon has failed in a bid to get his licence back after being charged with low range drink driving.

Mr Lyon allegedly blew 0.059 on June 4 and appeared in Byron Bay Local Court on Monday in a bid to get back on the road before his case was heard later in the year.

But Magistrate Karen Stafford dismissed his appeal over the immediate licence suspension.

At the suspension appeal, Ms Stafford told the court she was interested only in “exceptional circumstances” and that did not include the risk of someone losing their employment because they had lost their licence.

Outside the courtroom, Mr Lyon said the decision was “harsh” but he has “to live with it”.

“In my 32 years of driving I’ve never had a drink driving charge or offence (before) and .059 is a low range and I end up with the same sentence as people who have mid-range and a repeat offence,” he told the Byron Shire News.

In a statement, Mr Lyon said the licence suspension would be detrimental to his family.