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Drink-driving teen thought doing burnouts in Rye was ‘cool’

A P-plater says he thought it was cool to do burnouts after getting on the grog with his mates in Rye. Until he realised police were watching on.

A teen hoon thought it was “cool” to do a burnout while over three times the legal alcohol limit. Generic picture
A teen hoon thought it was “cool” to do a burnout while over three times the legal alcohol limit. Generic picture

A teen hoon who thought it was “cool” to do a burnout as police watched on has been found to have a blood-alcohol content of more than three times the legal limit.

Dromana Magistrates’ Court last Thursday heard police came across Blake Liam Meister driving erratically in Johnston St, Rye while patrolling the area about 12am on June 9.

Police watched the car lose traction as Meister did a burnout about 100m-200m in front of them.

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Meister parked his car and started to walk away after realising police were nearby, but officers were onto him and he was arrested.

The 19-year-old then tested positive for drink-driving — as a P-plater he should have been zero — and recorded a blood-alcohol content of .171.

His car was impounded for 30 days, at a cost of more than $1000, and he lost his licence on the spot.

Meister was frank with police when being interviewed, telling them “I knew I was going to be over”.

The Rye landscaper said he did the burnout because he “was hooning” and thought his driving “was cool”.

His defence lawyer said the case was an “awful trifecta of youth, a high reading and bad driving”.

Blake Liam Meister
Blake Liam Meister

The lawyer said Meister, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving and loss of traction, had been drinking bourbon and beer with some mates while house-sitting for a former employer when he had a disagreement with his pals and “unwisely” got in the car to “clear the air”.

He said Meister, who had no prior convictions, was full of contrition and remorse and “refreshingly” honest with police, with the whole situation out of character.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge slammed Meister’s behaviour as irresponsible, with potentially life-changing repercussions.

“I note at the time there were a number of stresses involving your family,” Mr Lethbridge said.

“Things would have been even more tragic if you had ended up in jail by killing someone.

“And that certainly was on the cards with a reading of .171.”

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Mr Lethbridge said he hoped Meister had learnt from his mistakes, warning him a repeat would incur imprisonment.

Meister was convicted and fined $900, and disqualified from driving for 17 months, backdated to June.

He was also placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond, ordered to do a road trauma awareness seminar and told to pay $250 to the court fund.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/drinkdriving-teen-thought-doing-burnouts-in-rye-was-cool/news-story/82ac0144590a2f8843dcd9b4ed8ef1e2