James Lawson spared another driving ban after pleas to magistrate
An unlicensed driver caught in Campbellfield told police he was behind the wheel because he didn’t want to ride a bike to work in the rain. But it was an even more extraordinary reason that convinced a magistrate to give him a “break”.
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A gardener has been spared another driving ban after he told a magistrate he would drive anyway because he needed to get to work.
James Lawson, a northern suburbs maintenance worker, was caught without a seatbelt and valid licence when police pulled him over on the Hume Highway in Campbellfield about 4pm on August 28.
He told officers he only drove “because it was raining” and he forgot to wear his seatbelt.
Police prosecutor First Constable Abdul Fakhouri told the court Lawson’s licence had been suspended for six months until October 18 due to a loss of demerit points.
Lawson, representing himself, pleaded guilty to driving while suspended at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on October 4.
The court heard it was the third time he had been picked up for that offence.
But Lawson told magistrate Martin Grinberg he would reoffend if his licence was suspended again.
“If you suspend my licence we’ll just be back in court doing the same thing,” he said.
“It’ll probably happen again if I lose my licence.
“I need my licence to get to work — I’ve got to get around and I can’t get around without a car.”
Lawson, who is currently serving a community corrections order for previous offending, said he only drove that day because he didn’t want to ride 25km to work in the rain.
“I’ve cleaned up my act … I’ve been doing a mental health program (and) I don’t need anymore hassles,” he said.
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Mr Grinberg told Lawson he couldn’t just choose to drive because it was raining but decided to give the gardener a “break” with his licence.
“If you drive again while suspended you’ll potentially get locked up,” Mr Grinberg said.
Lawson was convicted and fined $1000. He can start driving again on October 19.