Repeat drug driver given licence back after no more ice promise
After being caught behind the wheel while banned about 20 times and nabbed drug-driving on three occasions, a man is back on the road again after telling a court he won’t use ice again.
South East
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A drug-addicted dodgy driver with an “incredible” rap sheet has been given his licence back, telling a court he’s now on methadone and promising he won’t use ice any more.
Daniel Rodriguez Araujo applied to Dandenong Magistrates’ Court last Thursday for his driving licence to be reinstated after he lost it last year for 12 months for failing an oral fluid test.
The 32-year-old from Noble Park said he needed to drive for his new job as a renderer, the first employment he has had “in years”.
He said he had spent around seven out of the last 10 years of his life in jail and swore on oath not to get behind the wheel again while high.
“I’m f***ing over it now,” Araujo said.
“I didn’t care when I was on drugs, I started when I was 22 and now I’m 32.
“I have been wasting my life.”
His poor rap sheet was described in court as “incredible”, consisting of about 20 suspended or disqualified driving offences, as well as three examples of failing an oral fluid test.
Araujo said he had amended his ways and the last time he used ice was in June last year.
“I accept I have a pretty bad history,” he said.
“I’m now on methadone, it is a Godsend to me.
“I’m at the point in my life where I needed to change, I have changed.”
He said he was back home living with his parents, who are very supportive, and his father had been helping out in the past few weeks by taking him to and from work jobs.
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Magistrate Suzette Dootjes said Araujo was now well aware that the right to drive was a privilege and she was satisfied it was appropriate to grant his application.