Drink-driver Stephanie Margot Claire pleads guilty after Mullumbimby pub visit

A woman’s car almost rolled down the main street of a rural North Coast town when she jumped out to talk to police on a rainy night. Read how her night ended.

A drink-driver’s car almost rolled down the main street of Mullumbimby when she jumped out to talk to police on a rainy night.

Two police officers saw Stephanie Margot Claire, 36, driving in a silver Toyota HiLux about 12.40am on May 21 and pulled her over for a random breath test.

As the officers approached, Claire jumped out to chat to the officers when they “noticed the car rolling and asked her to pull up the handbrake”.

“Her eyes were watery and her speech was slurred,” police documents state.

Claire had just visited Middle Pub but she told police her last drink had been “maybe two hours ago”.

The Suffolk Park woman pleaded guilty in Mullumbimby Local Court to driving with a 0.115 per cent blood alcohol concentration.

Mullumbimby Local Courthouse

Police arrested Claire and took her to Brunswick Heads police station where she was “very talkative and appeared moderately affected by alcohol”.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said she was not impressed, considering Claire had recently stood before the court after being charged over a different matter. 

“You have previously been at this court for knowingly breaking an AVO order,” Ms Stafford said.

The court heard Claire broke a restriction in an apprehended domestic violence order on August 28 at Mullumbimby and again on September 7 at the Upper Main Arm region. 

Ms Stafford convicted and fined Claire $800 and imposed a mandatory interlock order for 12 months.

Claire is disqualified from driving for three months.

She must also complete a community corrections order with supervision for 12 months.