Daniel Vladeta: Oov inventor blew more than twice the legal alcohol limit in Byron Bay
A leading medical professional who developed a groundbreaking device used across the world has avoided a conviction for drink driving. The court heard he attracted police attention after dodging a dog on the road.
Byron Shire
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A medical practitioner who developed a groundbreaking physical therapy device has avoided a criminal conviction after he blew twice the limit after he harshly braked to avoid a dog in front of police officers.
Oov creator Daniel Vladeta appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving.
Agreed facts tendered to court reveal the 53-year-old was driving a Mercedes ute about 11.30pm on June 25 along Lawson St at Byron Bay when police saw a dog run in front of his car.
It caused Vladeta to brake harshly before turning onto Fletcher St and ultimately being stopped by police for a random breath test.
In speaking with officers, Vladeta said he had recently consumed alcohol “five minutes previous” and he was observed to have glassy eyes and his pupils were dilated, agreed facts revealed.
After recording a positive result, he was arrested and taken to Byron Bay police station where he returned reading of 0.126 and told officers he had consumed four “free poured” glasses of wine and a tequila at a friend’s house between 12.30pm and 11.30pm.
Agreed facts state Vladeta’s licence was suspended, however, “he refused to sign”.
Police say the 53-year-old was argumentative and belligerent towards officers during their interactions and “appeared often confused by seemingly simple answers [or] statements from police”.
From the outset on Tuesday, Magistrate Miranda Moody said she didn’t believe the defence’s submission Vladeta was only moving his car and told the court he had “quite a high reading”.
His lawyer Mr Weller – who appeared via video link – asked for a conditional release order without conviction, noting a previous apology made by his client regarding his attitude towards police.
The court heard Vladeta’s total driving distance “was less than a kilometre”, it was a “clear one off”, that it was stupid and he had accepted full responsibility.
Mr Weller said his client had been helping people in the health industry since the 1990s and had been working on an invention, resulting in him being invited to the America and China for lectures, including speaking to military personnel.
He said the device worked out whether a person’s body was “out of balance” and had helped people after sporting injuries or those who had suffered daily wear and tear.
Ms Moody highlighted Vladeta was a medical practitioner which was “all the more reason” why he should’ve known better than to get behind the wheel.
She told the court she would be making an “exception” given his good record, completing the traffic offender’s program, and to allow his “good work” in the health industry to continue in China and America.
Vlaedta was sentenced to a 12 month conditional release order.
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