Mark Rangi: Construction worker sentenced for high range drink driving

The man was weaving across the road while driving in Oatley last month when he came under the notice of police. Find out what happened in court.

A Queensland construction worker has been ordered to complete 200 hours of community service after he was caught driving more than three times the legal limit in Oatley.

Mark Kenneth Rangi, 38, was sentenced and convicted in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to a charge of high range drink driving.

Magistrate Philip Stewart placed Rangi on a community correction order for two years, fined him $1500 and he was disqualified from driving for six months and must have an interlock device fitted for 24 months.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Rangi was driving in Oatley about 1.30am on June 13 this year when he signalled to turn right.

Queenslander Mark Kenneth Rangi, 38, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to a charge of high range drink driving. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A police car was directly behind him when they saw Rangi drive straight rather than turn as indicated.

Officers noted Rangi was not driving in a straight line, weaving across the lane, the court heard.

They signalled for the car to stop and Rangi pulled over before he was asked for his licence.

Officers noted he had slurred speech and returned a positive roadside breath test, the court heard.

Rangi was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.181, which is more than three times the legal limit.

Rangi was charged and his licence was suspended.

Queenslander Mark Kenneth Rangi left Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday with his lawyer Katrina Beltran. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

In court on Tuesday, Rangi’s defence lawyer Katrina Beltran noted her client’s previous driving under the influence charges dated back to 2013, 2008 and 2007 in Queensland, conceding that was a poor record.

She said he drove interstate almost every week for his work in the construction industry, adding if he lost his licence there would be a delay in the road projects he was working on which would have a major impact on other workers and the community more generally.

She said if Rangi lost his licence for a long time he would be unable to work and had the extra punishment of having to tell his boss about the charge, who was his father.

Magistrate Stewart said Rangi had taken positive steps in his rehabilitation and noted the previous driving charges were “somewhat dated”.

He took into account that Rangi was considered by his references to be a hard worker and had completed the traffic offenders program.

Magistrate Stewart said there was a strong need to protect the community from drivers who drove under the influence but accepted Rangi was remorseful.