Four times over drink-driver was waiting on Tinder date when police caught her in Highett park
A woman looking for love downed two bottles of wine before going to a Highett reserve to meet someone she’d hooked up with on Tinder. But then her evening went downhill fast.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A four-times-over drunk caught parked in a public reserve car park told cops she was there to meet a Tinder date.
The looking-for-love lady was nabbed after police officers saw her unregistered car parked at a strange angle in a strange place late at night and went to investigate.
They found her heavily intoxicated behind the wheel, recording a reading of .218.
Ildi Romancz pleaded guilty to drink-driving and unregistered vehicle charges at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard her car was seen “parked improperly” at Peterson Street Reserve on Highett Rd in Highett at 11.25pm on January 13 this year.
The engine was off at the time, but the keys were still in the ignition and the car was hot to the touch.
She told police she was there for a Tinder date and had drunk two bottles of wine.
Her licence was suspended on the spot and the car, which had a rego that had expired a month before, was impounded.
The unemployed Highett 56-year-old, who had no priors, represented herself in court.
She said she had been to a girlfriend’s place during the day, went home and then decided to go to the bottle shop to get more wine before going to the park.
“I was having a bad day that day,” Romancz said.
“I was at the park for quite some time, and had not eaten that day.
“I was going to ring my son to pick me up, sleep it off, get a taxi or walk home.”
She didn’t elaborate on any details about reasons for the Tinder date’s no-show.
MORE COURT NEWS
DRINK DRIVERS: FOOTBALLERS, FILMMAKERS, LAWYERS, ESTATE AGENTS
WOMAN BASHING DRUG TRAFFICKER WALKS FREE
DRINK DRIVE DAD LEFT DAUGHTER HOME ALONE TO GET BEERS
Magistrate Dr Michael King said she should have walked home or made other arrangements.
“You put people potentially seriously at risk … a significant number of fatal accidents happen due to drink-drivers,” Dr King said.
“You couldn’t possibly have adequately controlled the car, you were not the best judge as to whether you should drive or not.”
Romancz was placed on a six-month community corrections order and must do 40 hours of unpaid work.
She was also disqualified from driving for 21 months, backdated to January.