Firefighter James McFarlane disqualified after high range drink driving

Police found a firefighter “incoherent” and “glassy eyed” behind the wheel of a Ford Falcon. Such was his shame he contacted police days later to apologise.

A firefighter was four times over the drink drive limit when police found him “incoherent” and “glassy eyed” behind the wheel of a Ford Falcon.
Glenmore Park’s James Peter McFarlane appeared before Penrith Local Court on February 2.
The 58-year-old, who is employed by the NSW Fire Brigade, contacted police a few days later to apologise for his actions, the court heard.

James McFarlance, 58, appeared before Penrith local court on February 2 after he was caught drink driving last year.

About 10:40pm on October 30, 2021, police were patrolling Botany Road, Waterloo, when they noticed a white Ford Falcon parked with headlights on and two people in the front seat.
Five minutes later, when police patrolled the same area, the car was gone.
About 10:50pm, police were patrolling Botany Road, Rosebery, when they saw the same car with headlights on and the same occupants inside.
This time the car was illegally parked in a no stopping zone.
Police approached the car and when McFarlane opened the driver’s side door, police immediately smelt alcohol on his breath, according to court documents.
While questioning McFarlane about his alcohol consumption, he was unable to answer as he “appeared incoherent and inebriated” and “his eyes were glassy and bloodshot”.
Police observed that McFarlane “displayed significant impairment in his speech and memory, especially his movements in the last 12 hours”, according to the full facts.
McFarlane was given a roadside breath test which returned a positive result so they arrested him for breath analysis, taking McFarlane to Mascot custody.

McFarlane was taken into custody in Mascot for breath analysis. Image: Google Maps.

While there, McFarlane returned a reading on 0.207 and his licence was immediately suspended and given a court attendance notice for a high range PCA.
Police have CCTV of McFarlane parking in Waterloo around 10:05pm and then driving southbound on Botany Road around 10:43pm before parking and being approached by police shortly after.
Magistrate David O’Neil convicted James Peter McFarlane of driving with a high range PCA.
He was fined $750, had his licence disqualified for 7 months, was given a 24 interlock driver’s licence and also handed a 24 month community corrections order.
The community corrections order will expire in February 2024 and he must complete 150 hours of community service as part of it.