Frankston Ford car salesman avoids ban after twice being caught driving while suspended
A Jeff Wignall Ford Frankston car salesman has twice been caught driving while suspended. He has managed to keep his job, and in court used his gift of the gab to keep his licence, too.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A car salesman who pleaded with a magistrate to let him keep his licence after he was twice caught driving while suspended has managed to sweet-talk his way out of another ban.
Darren John Harris, who works for Frankston’s Jeff Wignall Ford dealership, was nabbed driving illegally in October and again in December last year.
He said it would financially ruin his family if he lost his licence again as he would also lose his job because he needed to take prospective purchasers on test drives.
The Mornington 47-year-old pleaded guilty to two suspended driving charges at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Harris was pulled over by police on Nepean Highway in Frankston on October 1 last year after his car was flagged on the cop’s automatic number plate recognition system.
He said he was unaware he was suspended as he had chosen the ‘golden point’ option to be allowed to carry on driving.
But even after he was told not to drive by police he continued to get behind the wheel and was caught again on December 30 on Bentons Rd in Mornington.
This time he admitted he knew he was banned and his car was impounded for 30 days.
He had been suspended on August 30 last year for eight months, and shouldn’t have been driving until April this year.
Harris, who represented himself in court, said he had never been in trouble with the law before.
He said he needed his licence for his work, was remorseful and promised he wouldn’t drive while suspended again.
He said after the second time he was caught he did not drive again, and luckily for him his bosses found him other work to do during the remainder of the banned period.
But if he were to lose it again he would be sacked, he said.
“It was a stupid thing, doing it the second time, I’m very sorry,” Harris said.
“I’ve had my licence back now for a few months, I have been very lucky my employer kept me on.
“I would lose my job if I lost my licence today, I’m really hoping you don’t take my licence away.”
Magistrate Vicky Prapas said even if the first offence was an innocent mistake, the second certainly wasn’t.
“Your behaviour in disregarding an order not to drive has meant you jeopardised everything,” Ms Prapas said.
“But your family shouldn’t have the anxiety (of you losing your job) because of your disregard for the road rules.
“Your job, your family needs you to have a licence; I hope this is a wake-up call for you.”
Harris was convicted and fined $1000, with no licence suspension imposed.
MORE COURT NEWS
COVID-19 BREACHER CAUGHT WITH ICE, STOLEN ID IN CAR