Bryce Radunz sentenced for drink driving while on parole

A Scenic Rim man caught driving while more than twice the legal alcohol limit can stay on the road — on a restricted licence — so he can keep his $8000 a month job, a magistrate has ruled.

A trawler worker has been allowed to keep driving on a restricted licence, despite being caught drink driving while on parole.

Beaudesert Magistrates Court heard Bryce Radunz, 24, of Palen Creek, earned upwards of $8000 a month working on a Hervey Bay prawn trawler, Beaudesert Magistrates Court heard.

Radunz, who lived at home in Palen Creek with his parents, was on parole and had a suspended sentence at the time of the offence.

The court was told he was pulled over at Duingal on the Bruce Highway on July 6.

Police prosecutor, Snr-Constable Andrew Bjerring, said Radunz had a blood alcohol reading of 0.123.

Radunz pleaded guilty to mid-range drink driving and applied for a restricted work licence.

“At 3.15pm police intercepted his motor vehicle for exceeding the speed limit,” Snr-Constable Bjerring said.

“Random breath test was conducted and the defendant said he’d consumed beers and spirits that day.”

Magistrate Tracy Mossop said that “sadly’’ the offence was committed while Radunz was on a suspended sentence.

Bryce Radunz.

“It’s also been confirmed he’s (Radunz) on parole,’’ she said.

“So you’ve breached parole and breached a suspended sentence by this.”

Ms Mossop said the actions breached a suspended sentence handed down in Gladstone Magistrates Court in January.

“Do you realise how close you’ve come today to going into jail?” Ms Mossop asked him.

She extended the operational period of his suspended sentence for a period of two months, to a total of 11 months, until December 15.

“Seriously clean your act up. You’re earning decent money, there’s no need to be committing offences,’’ Ms Mossop warned him.

“When you come back off the trawler you don’t need to go and have copious amounts to drink and then drive.”

The court heard Radunz paid $1000 a month in rent.

Despite having no other expenses, Ms Mossop was satisfied losing such a significant wage warranted a restricted license, for the next four months, so Radunz could drive to where the prawn trawler docked.

Radunz said he worked on the trawler for five weeks straight and had to arrive on the day it departed at 1am. He then drive home to his parents’ house for his two weeks off work.

Radunz was allowed to drive only on Thursdays, between 1am and 6pm, when he was heading to work or going home.

She convicted Radunz, extended his suspended sentence and fined him $650. A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Bryce Radunz sentenced for drink driving while on parole