Caitlin Monteleone pleads guilty to traffic violations at Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court

A Warrnambool woman has been told to make “better driving decisions” after being caught in Greensborough driving with no licence.

A Warrnambool woman has pleaded guilty to traffic violations but has not been convicted.

Caitlin Monteleone appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to driving with her licence suspended multiple times, the court heard.

On November 2021, the 21-year-old was driving a red vehicle when she was intercepted by Greensborough highway patrol.

Highway patrol officers asked Monteleone for her licence but, being unable to produce it, she said she had forgotten her wallet.

The police discovered the hospitality student had her licence suspended on September 10, 2021 and asked why she was driving illegally.

The court heard Monteleone said she had to drive her partner to work.

On April 22 last year, her licence was cancelled due to driving under the influence of alcohol.

However, the court heard Monteleone, a bakery and cafe worker, continued to drive unlicensed as it was her only way to get to work.

A report from her lawyer, Salima Catherine, said Monteleone was thankful she didn’t cause an accident while drink driving.

On June 10 last year, she was intercepted again driving illegally and her car was impounded.

Since then Monteleone has walked 3.5kms to and from work and committed no further offences since June.

Despite the offences, judicial registrar Michael Bolte told Monteleone she seemed to be “trying to get her life back on track”.

“You have had personal challenges in your previous years,” Mr Bolte said.

However, he said no one was “immune” to the road safety rules.

He said Monteleone seemed intelligent and encouraged her to make “better driving decisions”.

“It’s not okay to drive your boyfriend to work if you are suspended,” he said.

Monteleone was fined $1200 and received a three month licence suspension.