Simon Fitzgerald: Surfside golf cart technician busted driving with drugs in his system

A golf cart technician busted driving with drugs in his system multiple times has fronted court to face the music for the offence once more.

Simon Fitzgerald leaving Batemans Bay Local Court with a conviction.

A golf cart technician busted driving with drugs in his system multiple times has fronted court to face the music for the offence once more.

The decision to get behind the wheel after consuming cannabis saw golf cart technician Simon Fitzgerald, 40, wind up in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to drive with illicit substance in blood.

Although the Surfside man was facing the one charge, the court heard this was his fourth time being caught driving with cannabis in his system, having previously been convicted on charges of drive with illicit drug in blood.

Police documents tendered to the court reveal the most recent offence took place on the evening of August 2 at North Batemans Bay.

The agreed facts reveal Fitzgerald was driving along Old Punt Rd when his “manner of driving” gained the attention of highway patrol officers travelling in the opposite direction.

The south coast golf cart mechanic was caught driving with drugs in his system for a fourth time.

“Officers spun around to pull [Fitzgerald] over after they watched him swerve while driving,” agreed facts state.

After approaching the window of his car, officers conducted a breath test and after it returned a negative result, officers conducted an oral fluid test which returned a positive result for cannabis.

Fitzgerald was taken to Batemans Bay police station where a second positive test was completed before his licence was suspended.

The sample was sent to Lidcombe for forensic analysis and one month later, confirmed the golf technician had cannabis in his system.

In court on Monday, Fitzgerald’s lawyer Geoffrey Knox said his client needed his licence due to his line of work.

“[Fitzgerald] travels from Yass to Eden and Ulladulla to service golf carts,” he said. “I’ve spoken to his employer who is pretty unimpressed with the situation.”

Despite the pleas to keep his licence, Magistrate Doug Dick said Fitzgerald needed to learn his lesson.

“You can’t keep committing the same offences you have been punished for,” he said.

Fitzgerald was convicted, fined $1600 and had his licence disqualified for 12 months.