Former councillor under stress convicted of evading police

A former Hobart City councillor who pleaded guilty to evading police has had their licence disqualified for six months. Here’s how the situation unfolded.

Former Hobart City Councillor Jax Fox. Picture: Kenji Sato

A former Hobart City councillor received a six-month driving disqualification on Tuesday after evading police at a random breath testing stop in Glenorchy.

Jax Pixie Fox, 32, represented by defence lawyer Pip Monk, previously pleaded guilty to one count of evading police.

The court heard that on September 14 last year at 8.45pm, Fox was travelling east on Goodwood Road in a red Suzuki APV van when they came across the police conducting random breath testing.

Police observed the car stop approximately 200m short of the testing site before turning around and scaling an embankment where Fox abandoned the car and ran to their then address in Goodwood.

Jax Fox pictured outside the Hobart Magistrates Court in 2022.

A police drone and resources were used to track Fox, and ultimately police attended Fox’s address.

There, police encountered Fox and their former partner, where they told police their vehicle had been stolen.

However, when separated from their partner, Fox told police they was unable to sign their statement as “it’s not true”.

“It’s quite clear on the police bodycam that the partner was quite combative with police and things escalated with police due to how the partner was acting,” Ms Monk said.

Ms Monk also stated Fox had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder following the incident.

Police dismissed one count of driving a motor vehicle while exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit, after tendering no evidence to the charge.

Hobart City Council candidate Jax Fox. Picture: Chris Kidd

Fox has previously been convicted for a drink-driving charge.

A charge relating to their tuning into a Hobart City Council meeting via Zoom while driving was previously dismissed.

In passing down his sentence, Mr Hay said he suspected Fox’s reaction with police was impacted by stress.

“As soon as you saw the light of day, you agreed it was you,” he said.

“Things seem to be under reasonable control for you into the future.”

Mr Hay also ordered Fox to pay a minimum fine of $1590 and car impound costs of $600.

Originally published as Former councillor under stress convicted of evading police