Forster nurse Amy Elizabeth Whitehouse caught high-range drink driving, speeding on way to work at hospital
A Mid-North Coast nurse was on her way to work in an emergency department when she was picked up speeding and blew high range after drinks at a club.
Mid-North Coast
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A nurse and mum-of-four was caught speeding and drink driving through Tuncurry on her way to work at Manning Base Hospital’s emergency department.
Police officers who pulled over Amy Elizabeth Whitehouse travelling about 64km/h in a 50km/h zone on The Lakes Way on August 20 found she was “well affected by alcohol”.
Whitehouse was travelling from her home in Forster to work at the Taree hospital about 8.30pm, according to police in Forster Local Court documents.
Whitehouse had bloodshot, watery eyes, was unsteady on her feet and was subjected to a roadside breath test.
She blew 0.221 – four times the legal limit – was arrested and taken to Forster Police Station.
After a 15- minute observation period, Whitehouse blew 0.176 on a follow-up test and was charged with high-range drink driving – first offence.
Whitehouse faced the court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to the drink driving and a speeding charge.
Her lawyer told the court Whitehouse was an active member of the Forster Surf Life Saving Club and that she needed her licence to take her children to various activities, including daycare, swim squad and basketball.
Through her lawyer, the mum of four young daughters told the court she had consumed three white wines that afternoon and had not eaten.
When Magistrate Allison Hawkins questioned the assertion that three wines lead to the high blood alcohol reading, Whitehouse’s lawyer told the court the drinks were “not standard” in size.
Whitehouse told officers she consumed two wines at Club Forster and a third at her home, according to police facts.
Ms Hawkins said “unfortunately this court sees all too often people who have lived decent and contributing lives” face penalties for drink driving, but she said there “has to be consequences”.
She told the court it was lucky police picked Whitehouse up, rather than an “innocent person travelling in the other direction” being impacted by a crash.
Whitehouse was convicted, fined $250 for speeding and $1100 for high-range drink driving.
Her licence was suspended for six months from the date of the offence. Whitehouse can apply for a 24-month interlock licence once allowed back on the road.
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