Fire tech Grant Booth, 37, pays for rides to keep working after DUI

A fire protection technician has paid up big in a bid to keep his job after a licence suspension for drink driving, where he forked out half his wage to “hire a friend” to chauffeur him to work.

Coffs Harbour Court House generic

A fire protection technician has paid up big in a bid to keep his job after a licence suspension for drink driving, where he forked out half his wage to “hire a friend” to chauffeur him to work.

Grant Richard John Booth, 37, found himself in the difficult situation of paying half his weekly wage — $500 – to stay employed for work with Port Macquarie-based North Coast Fire and Security.

The dedicated worker faced the challenge of being unable to drive himself when his licence was suspended for mid-range drink driving on February 16. So he hired a mate for the sum, the court heard.

Grant Richard John Booth outside Coffs Harbour court 18 March 2025.

The court heard it was essential for Booth to have his driver’s licence to drive a work van as he travels for work up and down the east coast of NSW.

His defence lawyer Hugo Schleiger told the court it was “very out of character” for his client to drink alcohol “let alone drink and drive”.

Magistrate Julia Virgo noted that while Booth “has a reasonable traffic record”, a prior disqualification in 2010 had not acted as a deterrent.

Booth pleaded guilty to driving with a mid-range PCA on Tuesday at Coffs Harbour Local Court where he was supported by his wife of 11 years.

He was fined $550, disqualified from driving for four months and has been ordered to use a mandatory interlock device for 12 months.

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