Miner Justin Falla pleads guilty to performing 92m burnout at Long Beach

A Braidwood dad and mining supervisor has been asked in court if he was a “little bit old” to be doing skids after he performed a 92m burnout on the state’s south coast.

Justin Robert Gabriel Falla faced Queanbeyan Local Court on July 10, 2023.

A mining supervisor’s licence has “gone up in smoke” after committing a burnout across a staggering 92m on a south coast road.

Justin Robert Gabriel Falla was asked, when appearing in Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday, if he was a “little bit old” to be doing burnouts after admitting to performing a massive “doughnut” at Long Beach on April 2.

Agreed facts tendered to the court state the Braidwood man was seen by an off-duty police officer ripping skids along an unnamed access road near Cullendulla Dr.

An analysis of the road by police revealed the total distance of the burnout marks was 92m with the dangerous manoeuvre seen and reported by the off-duty cop.

In court documents, the officer said he saw a “large plume of white smoke” coming from the access road and from Falla’s car.

Justin Robert Gabriel Falla.

The 39-year-old’s car was seen doing a “doughnut” before it was observed to “skid out” onto Cullendulla Dr as it turned to travel towards the Princes Hwy.

The whole time this was occurring police say the car was revving its engine excessively and spinning its wheels.

Justin Robert Gabriel Falla.

Police contacted Falla who came to the Batemans Bay police station and originally told police he didn’t do the burnout.

The facts state an inspection of his car the same evening showed evidence of melted rubber and “harsh friction” with officers noticing the smell of burnt rubber.

Defence lawyer Rachel Fisher tendered references to the court which spoke of the Braidwood man’s good character.

Ms Fisher said the 39-year old was a mining site supervisor and needed his licence for work and for parenting duties in Queanbeyan.

Magistrate Roger Clisdell labelled Falla’s offence as a “pretty egregious” burnout.

“He’s a little bit old to be doing burnouts,” Mr Clisdell said.

The Queanbeyan magistrate then corrected himself and said most of the “revheads” at Summernats were probably older than him.

“Hand your licence to the court officer because it’s going up in smoke,” Mr Clisdell told Falla.

Falla pleaded guilty to prolong, sustain etc loss of traction was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for seven days.

A conviction was recorded.