Drink-driving lawyer Roderic Lindquist caught speeding after boozy lunch
A veteran lawyer nabbed driving an unregistered car at 118km/h along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway has blown more than three times the legal alcohol limit after drinks and lunch with a friend turned into dinner.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A long-lunching lawyer pulled over by police speeding home from the Peninsula in an unregistered car has been sentenced to a fine and a ban.
But Roderic Lindquist, who practises commercial law, escaped a conviction for his trifecta of traffic infractions.
The South Melbourne 63-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving, speeding and driving an unregistered car at Dromana Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard about 8pm on September 14 last year Somerville Highway Patrol officers noticed a car speeding along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mt Martha.
Lindquist was registered travelling at 118km/h in a 100km/h zone, and his vehicle was pulled over.
His car was unregistered, having run out of rego 10 days before, and he blew an alcohol reading of .155.
He told police he had been to a lunch with a mate and he had drunk four glasses of wine, but gave no reason for his speeding or for driving an unregistered car.
His vehicle was impounded for 30 days and he lost his licence on the spot.
Before this incident Lindquist, a former President of the Law Society of South Australia with over 40 years of experience working at a variety of law firms, had no prior convictions.
His online biography lists him as having a “wine appreciation” and someone who enjoyed sports including sailing, football, tennis and cricket.
In court his defence lawyer said Lindquist had made “a poor decision” to drive after having a lunch with a friend, which then turned into a dinner.
He said at the time he “didn’t fully appreciate” how much alcohol he had consumed, and admitted he should have found another way to get home.
He said he had written a letter of remorse, paid the car registration two days after the incident, and had booked into a road trauma awareness program.
MORE COURT NEWS
HAMMERED ESTATE AGENT GOING GOING GONE
DRUNK IN ONE-PUNCH RYE RSL ATTACK
NUMBERS UP FOR FINANCE BOSS DRINK DRIVER
Magistrate Timothy Gattuso said he accepted Lindquist was apologetic and “very sorry” for his actions, but what he did was dangerous.
“You represented a huge risk to other road users, driving at speed and three times over,” Mr Gattuso said.
“It was a significant reading and you were speeding; you were a significant danger to other road users.
“You should have known better than this, (you should) have made alternative arrangements.”
He said his otherwise good character and lack of priors meant he would avoid conviction this time, but warned him any future court appearances would likely incur far heavier penalties.
Lindquist was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for 15 months, backdated to September. No conviction was recorded.