Peter Beattie nabbed drink-driving on day of his dad’s funeral after boozing at Beaches of Mornington
After his father’s funeral, a beef farmer decided to have a few commemorative ales at Beaches of Mornington. But he commemorated a little too much and attracted the attention of the police.
South East
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A triple over-the-limit drink driver was nabbed boozed up behind the wheel in Mornington on the day of his father’s funeral, a court has heard.
Peter Beattie, a 68-year-old beef farmer, told Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday he will now have to sell some of his cattle to pay his fine.
The court heard he had left the Beaches of Mornington hotel when he was pulled over by police on July 19 last year.
He had caught the attention of officers because he suddenly stopped near a roundabout in Waterloo Place, Mornington, for no apparent reason.
They noticed he had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and appeared intoxicated.
He then blew .144 in a roadside test and his car was impounded.
He told police he “didn’t know” how much he had to drink and was “going to his daughter’s house which was less than a kilometre away”.
This was his second related crime, having been caught drink driving with a similar reading in 2004.
Representing himself, he told the online court he was remorseful for what he did.
He said that day was his father’s funeral and he “wasn’t thinking 100 per cent”.
“We had the burial and a small service at the cemetery and a wake at Mt Eliza,” Beattie said.
“I was heading back to my daughter’s in Mornington and some friends and relatives were at Beaches (hotel), so I went there.
“There are no excuses, I had too much to drink.”
His wife, his brother and his brother’s wife were also in the car when he was caught.
“I regret doing it, I won’t be doing it again,” he said.
Magistrate Julian Ayres said that particular day should have had more prominence in his mind.
“It would have been tragic to have had an accident (due to drink-driving) on the day of the funeral,” Mr Ayres said.
“Anyone could have been injured or worse; you were nearly three times the limit.”
He said Beattie had been driving for around 50 years, and other than the 2004 incident, had a good prior road record.
He was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for the mandatory minimum of 14 months, backdated to August last year when his licence had been suspended.
Beattie said he would reapply for his licence when able to in December and that he “could sell a couple of cattle” to pay the fine.
No conviction was recorded.
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