Blaise Elzey faces Taree court after being caught speeding almost 30kmh over limit in Bushland Dr school zone

A Mid-North Coast teenager has been told he had “no hope of stopping” in time if a child crossed his path while speeding in a school zone.

Blaise Elzey was caught travelling almost 30kmh over the 40kph school zone speed limit.

A Taree teenager pulled over for speeding almost 30kmh over the limit in a school zone told police: “To be honest, I only bought this car recently – I was just having some fun.”

Blaise Elzey had turned 18 just three days before he was pulled over for speeding in the school zone in Taree about 2.40pm on March 14.

Elzey appeared before Magistrate John Chicken in Taree Local Court on June 14 to appeal a three-month licence suspension.

Elzey’s Toyota 86 was clocked travelling 68kmph in the 40km zone on Bushland Dr.

The school zone is in force between 2.30 and 4pm.

Blaise Elzey outside the court.

Mr Chicken asked what kind of car Elzey was driving at the time and his lawyer told the court it was a Toyota 86 with a four-cylinder engine.

“That’s not the fastest car in the world, but they can be kitted up to drive like a sports car,” Mr Chicken said.

“If a kid had run out chasing a football, or for whatever reason, you would have no hope of stopping and you wouldn’t be in Local Court, you’d be in District Court facing (charges of) driving causing grievous bodily harm or death.”

The court heard Elzey’s family relied heavily on him to drive them to work and medical appointments.

Mr Chicken took this into account and reduced Elzey’s disqualification from three months to three weeks starting June 14.