Paul Charles Tuesley: businessman sentenced after drunk driving friend home
A Gold Coast boating businessman will be back on the roads after he was busted by police driving over the limit. Read what the magistrate had to say.
Police & Courts
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A Gold Coast boating businessman who tried to help drive a friend home while more than double the legal alcohol limit will be back on the roads.
Paul Charles Tuesley, 52, pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
Police on patrol observed a car driving erratically on Broadwater Ave, Hope Island around 3.20am on January 25, 2025
The car, driven by Tuesley, was followed into the Hope Island Tavern car park where it was stopped by police.
Officers noticed Tuesley had slurred speech, glassy eyes and a strong smell of liquor on his breath.
The court heard that Tuesley’s friend was anxious to get home but with no public transport running, the boating businessman decided to assist and drive the friend despite being under the influence.
In a conversation with police, Tuesley admitted he probably had too much to drink and a breath test returned a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.135 – more than double the legal limit.
His defence lawyer, solicitor Heidi Le Masurier from Nyst Legal, told the court that her client was in the process of completing the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program.
She said that the offence should have a fine and a period of disqualification but asked for Tuesley to be granted a restricted work licence.
Ms Le Masurier told the court that her client could keep a log book and sometimes transports employees from one of his two businesses.
Character references from fellow Gold Coast businessmen in the boating industry were also tendered to the court.
Magistrate Kerry Magee said she had considered Tuesley’s personal and financial circumstances and he would face extreme hardship if the restricted work licence was not granted.
“I’ve considered the reference material that you are clearly a well respected member of the business community locally,” she said.
Tuesley will be able to drive on the roads only for purposes directly related to earning his living as a business owner from 6am to 9pm, seven days a week
He was fined $750 dollars and disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for nine months with no conviction recorded.
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