Footy playing speedster caught doing nearly double the 50km/h limit rubbed from the road
A young footballer was nabbed doing 96km/h in a quiet 50km/h suburban street, but he chose to question the umpire, disputing his fine to court. The magistrate was unimpressed.
South East
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A magistrate has slammed a lead-footed P-plate footy player caught doing nearly double the speed limit on a suburban street, jacking up his fine and benching him for a year.
Self-proclaimed “idiot” Jak Nardino was 19 when he was nabbed by a speed camera racing along Lyrebird Drive in Carrum Downs at 96km/h.
The limit for the family-orientated residential area is just 50km/h.
Magistrate Timothy Gattuso reprimanded the speedster, now aged 20, after he pleaded guilty to the speeding charge at Frankston Magistrates’ Court this morning.
The court heard a camera had been set up in Lyrebird Drive, Carrum Downs on January 17 last year. About 6.30pm it detected Nardino’s car driving at 96km/h in the 50km/h zone.
He was not intercepted and a penalty notice was sent to his home.
Nardino, who represented himself in court, said he knew about the compulsory 12-month licence loss, but didn’t think the $700 plus financial penalty was fair.
“I wasn’t mature, I was 19 then, I am 20 now,” Nardino said.
“I was being an idiot, I had a passenger with me at the time, I was hanging out with the wrong crowd.
“I came here (to court to plead his case) because life will be difficult without a licence; I know there is a mandatory loss, I’m just trying to get a lower fine.”
Mr Gattuso said Nardino was extremely lucky he wasn’t facing charges “upstairs” – at the County Court – which would have happened if he had hit someone.
“That is a very serious speed, doing 96 in a 50 zone,” Mr Gattuso said.
“And in a place where there is potential for other traffic and pedestrians to be around.
“If a child had walked out at that time, you could have killed them.”
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Mr Gattuso baulked at the request for a lower fine.
“You should have taken that option (pay the fine and not come to court), I have a larger than that amount in mind,” he said.
“You were 46 over the limit, and that was aggravated by being in a 50 zone. You would want to ensure you never drove like this again.”
The Optus worker is also a talented footballer, having won a rising star nomination and played for the Sandringham Dragons and the Beaumaris Sharks.
Nardino said he had parked his car at the nearby train station, but was told he couldn’t take it home and must get a friend or relative to come and pick it up.
Mr Gattuso increased the fine to $1250 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. No conviction was recorded.