33-year-old scaffolder charged for drink driving more than three times over the legal limit

A magistrate has warned a Port Macquarie man he could have ended up behind bars after being caught high range drink driving, but handed him a community corrections order instead.

A magistrate has warned a Mid North Coast man he could have ended up behind bars after being caught high range drink driving, but handed him a community corrections order instead.

Jamie Spurr was sentenced in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday for driving with high range PCA.

Spurr was stopped for a random breath test on West Haven’s St Albans Way at about 11pm on Friday, 28 January.

He returned a positive reading and was taken to Laurieton Police Station where he was entered into custody.

Police claimed Spurr was “moderately to well” affected by alcohol - his actions were sluggish and clumsy, and his speech was both slurred and slow.

Spurr underwent an additional breath analysis at the station which returned a reading of 0.155 - due to this high range, he had his right to drive in NSW revoked.

This is Spurr’s second major traffic offence in under three years after losing three demerit points and being fined for speeding in 2020 – but he says he’s learnt his lesson.

The court heard that Spurr had entered the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program.

“He’s since completed the program and has gained some valuable insights from it,” the defence said.

“He knows he shouldn’t have driven that night.”

Spurr’s defence said he had only driven a short distance but understood he should have chosen a different method of transport.

“He’s told me the drive was only about 500 meters from his friend’s house, but in hindsight he should’ve walked,” the court heard.

“There was also no other traffic on the road at the time, other than the police car that pulled him over.”

The defence also produced two character references from local employers, both speaking highly of Spurr.

Magistrate Georgina Darcy considered the evidence, noting the offender should’ve weighed up the risks before getting behind the wheel.

“You should’ve known you were over the limit after consuming the amount of alcohol you did,” she said.

“It’s disappointing that you find yourself before the court so quickly after your last traffic offence.

“You can be sent to jail for up to two years for this offence.”

Noting Spurr’s reading was toward the lower end of the high-range window, Ms Darcy handed down a conditional release order for a period of 18 months.

Spurr will be disqualified from driving for nine months.