Sophie Jane McDonald, 29, faces Byron Bay court after high-range drink driving crash in Byron Bay

A Byron Bay woman lost control of her Mazda after hopping behind the wheel at more than four times the legal alcohol limit. Here’s how a court handled the offending.

McDonald crashed into three parked cars on Sunrise Blvd. Picture: Google

A Byron Bay woman wiped out three parked cars after getting behind the wheel at more than four times the legal alcohol limit.

Byron Bay Local Court heard the 29-year-old’s sister is a paramedic “and she’s been made aware of the consequences of her actions”.

Sophie Jane McDonald pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court to driving with a high-range blood-alcohol reading and driving an unregistered car.

The court heard she had been out drinking margaritas with friends at Brunswick Heads before being caught drink driving intoxicated at Byron about 9.15pm on June 16.

McDonald was driving along Sunrise Boulevard when she lost control of the Mazda 3.

“She proceeded straight across the intersection and collided with three parked cars,” police state in court documents.

Fortunately no one was injured in the drunken smash.

Witnesses dialled triple-0 and police noticed McDonald was intoxicated when they arrived.

“Her balance and speech were affected and her actions appeared sluggish,” police state.

McDonald took a breath test and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.207.

She was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station, where she told police she had driven after five margarita cocktails.

Defence lawyer Cassandra Bennett said McDonald was paying compensation for the damage to the cars and had completed the Traffic Offender Intervention Program.

She told the court about McDonald’s paramedic sister.

McDonald’s sister is a paramedic and spoke to her about the dangers of drink driving after the incident, the court heard. File image. Picture: Mary-Ann Shapcott

“This was out of character behaviour, she does volunteer work with an animal agency and she is seeing a psychologist,” Ms Bennett said.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said she accepted McDonald was remorseful, but her actions were dangerous.

“You posed a risk of harm to everyone on the road,” she said.

“The court needs to send a reminder, if you’re going to drink drive you may as well be facing a form of imprisonment.

On Monday, Ms Stafford convicted McDonald and sentenced her to a 10-month intensive correction order, considered custody in the community. She must complete 80 hours of community service work.

McDonald was also fined $80, her driver’s licence was disqualified for six months and she must use an interlock for two years once allowed to drive.