Jaemie Little charged with drug driving and disqualified driving
Recreational cocaine users have been put on notice by a Sydney magistrate who told one driver caught driving under the influence it could stop her travelling overseas and affect her career.
St George Shire Standard
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A Sydney magistrate has warned seemingly minor crimes can have significant consequences after a woman who lost her licence for driving under the influence of cocaine was then caught driving disqualified.
Jaemie Little, 20, was caught driving with cocaine in her bloodstream in Sutherland on August 10 last year after police pulled her over for a random drug test.
A subsequent search of her silver Audi A3 also uncovered a 0.79g bag of cocaine on the driver’s seat.
“The accused admitted to having been in the possession of drugs, being cocaine,” agreed police facts stated.
Little was subsequently charged with driving disqualified when a police car’s number plate recognition system alerted them to the Ashcroft woman’s car passing ahead of them.
She pleaded guilty to all charges and Magistrate Peter Bugden convicted her of driving disqualified, fined her $500 and disqualified her for an additional six months at Sutherland Local Court.
“In NSW there’s about 14,500 people in jail, and 10 per cent of them are there because of driving while disqualified,” Mr Bugden said.
“It’s a serious charge.”
Little told the court she was unaware she was disqualified and had been told by the State Debt Recovery Office she was permitted to drive after she made a payment on outstanding unrelated fines and waived a fine suspension on her licence in November.
“You were the one who was disqualified,” Mr Bugden said.
“You knew that matter was going to court and you either did not make the right inquiries or you did something wrong but you still drove.”
Little was sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order without conviction for the cocaine possession.
“It was a mistake, I got caught up in going out on the weekends,” she told the court.
However, Mr Bugden said there were serious and little-known consequences for even minor personal drug possession charges.
“You are supporting the illegal drug trade by having that,” Mr Bugden said.
“It will stop you going into certain countries, the United States, Canada, Japan – it’s a matter that can affect your life and your career.”
Little’s second driving suspension will begin on February 20 for six months.