Hungry Hampton Park unlicensed driver caught by cops on way to McDonalds didn’t have lights on
A hungry father-of-two decided on a middle-of-the-night Big Mac and despite not having a licence he hopped in the car. Forgetting a crucial driving element was his downfall.
South East
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An unlicensed driver on his way to Maccas for a late night feed was caught after a cop car pulled along side him at a red light.
And Mohamad Bin Mustaffa, who had been previously disqualified for drug-driving, caught their attention because he was driving without rear lights or headlights.
He now wishes he had turned his lights on, or gone to the fridge instead of the local fast food joint, after pleading guilty to unlicensed driving at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The Hampton Park father of two was told he must reapply to get his licence back, or if he’s caught unlicensed again, he risked being jailed.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday heard about 4.30am on May 27 this year cops drove alongside Bin Mustaffa’s on the South Gippsland Highway in Hampton Park and noticed the unlit car.
He was pulled over and asked for driver’s licence but couldn’t produce one.
When they checked their computer they found out he was unlicensed after he had failed to successfully apply to get it back in court following a drug-drive crime.
He was honest with officers, saying he didn’t have a licence to drive but had got in the car as he was hungry and was on his way to “getting Maccas”.
The court heard Bin Mustaffa had a bad past for drug-driving offences and had previously served a community corrections order, but this was his first unlicensed crime.
He represented himself, with his partner and two young children in court, saying he had done some silly things.
“I’m really over the stupid choices I’ve made,” Bin Mustaffa said.
He said he had previously applied to have his licence reinstated and had clean drug screens as required, but was unable to provide the paperwork at the time so the application failed.
He said he was keen to reapply again and wouldn’t drive until he was successful.
“I’ve done my CCO, I need to get a licence back for my family,” he said.
He pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving and the father of two was told he must reapply to get his licence back.
Magistrate Julie O’Donnell said it was imperative he followed the correct process to get his licence back and if he continued to drive while not permitted, he risked going to jail.
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“You have a significant history for driving while on drugs, but this is your first unlicensed,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“Drug-driving does not carry a jail term, yet unlicensed does. It is a fine today, but you need to know this (driving unlicensed) is an offence we jail people for.”
She said she would see him back in court for his driving licence reinstatement application in January.
Bin Mustaffa was convicted and fined $700.