Bayside Council candidate Christopher Saravinovski appeals licence suspension for speeding, McDonald’s car park crash
A southern Sydney Labor council candidate has fronted court supported by his father, the long-time local mayor, to appeal his licence suspension after he was fined for speeding and causing a crash in a McDonald’s car park.
St George Shire Standard
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A Labor council candidate has successfully appealed a licence suspension after he was fined for speeding and causing a crash in a McDonald’s car park.
Christopher Saravinovski, 21, faced Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday only weeks after he was announced as “number one” on the Labor ticket for the upcoming Bayside Council election, replacing his father, retiring Bayside mayor Bill Saravinovski.
Saravinovski attended court dressed in a black hoodie, tracksuit pants, and Nike Airforce shoes accompanied by his father and a family friend, who addressed the court on his behalf.
The court heard Saravinovski was appealing a suspended licence for travelling more than 20km/h over the limit, disobeying road markings, and reversing into another vehicle.
The court heard Saravinovski was caught driving 126km/h in a 100km/h zone on the M5 motorway earlier this year.
The court also heard Saravinovski has lost another two demerit points when was fined for reversing and crashing into another vehicle at a McDonald’s car park.
Saravinovski went on to lose further demerit points for driving contrary to arrow markings on the roadway.
Saravinovski stood before the court as his family friend submitted they had video footage of the McDonald’s car park crash which indicated “it wasn’t his fault”.
Bill Saravinovski could then be seen gesturing to his son across the courtroom, urging him to present a letter which showed Transport NSW had withdrawn the McDonald’s car park fine.
The Transport NSW prosecutor reviewed the letter during the court break and Saravinovski, his father, and family friend left the courtroom.
When court resumed, the Transport NSW prosecutor said the “(not reverse safely) offence had been lifted from his record” and therefore there were “not enough demerit points lost to warrant a suspension”.
Magistrate Philip Stewart told Saravinovski the withdrawal meant he had lost six demerit points as opposed to eight, meaning he had avoided crossing the seven-demerit suspension threshold.
“You can keep your licence … you have the right to drive,” Mr Stewart said.
In the appeal letter lodged to the court, Saravinovski said he was of “good character and nature” and needed his licence to work two jobs, coach a young soccer team and attend his studies at Western Sydney University where he is a first year student.
After successfully appealing his licence suspension, Saravinovski left court next to his father Bill, who repeated the “fine has been withdrawn”.
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