NAMED: Three drink-drivers in Gatton court

After recording readings well above the legal limit, these drink-drivers on Laidley, Gatton roads had to face the music.

DRINK DRIVE: Three drink drivers have lost their licenses after pleading guilty in Gatton Magistrates Court.

A TRIO of drink-drivers who fronted Gatton Magistrates Court left a magistrate shaking his head as he heard their blood-alcohol readings.

Each driver recorded readings well above the legal 0.05 limit, landing in the middle drink-driving bracket.

 

Cameron John Bartlett

Cameron Bartlett, 21, drank himself above the limit before taking to the road on May 16.

He was driving on Patrick St, Laidley when police pulled him over just before 11pm.

The court heard Bartlett failed a roadside breath test after recording 0.140, a reading nearly three times above the legal limit.

He pleaded guilty to driving while above the middle alcohol limit and was fined $750.

His licence was disqualified for six months.

In court, he apologised for having committed the "ridiculous offence" and told Magistrate Peter Saggers he had already suffered by not being able to easily get himself to and from work.

Mr Saggers pointed out his was a "significant" reading.

"It's not one of those ones where you wonder if you're right (to drive) or not," Mr Saggers said.

"You put yourself and everyone else at risk, but you would know that."

 

Owen James Coogan

Owen Coogan, 56, drank between four and five cans of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

He was caught drink-driving on July 3, when he was pulled over for a random breath test on Whites Rd, Laidley.

Though the court heard he had no prior drink-driving charges on his history, tests showed his blood-alcohol level was .139 when pulled over earlier this month.

In court, he pleaded guilty to driving while above the middle alcohol limit.

Magistrate Peter Saggers noted his clean history but said Coogan was "right out of wack" this time.

"It's not one of those matters where you think, 'maybe I'm right, maybe I'm not'." Mr Saggers said.

". 139 is well on the way to high range."

Coogan lost his licence for six months but was granted a work licence.

A conviction was recorded and he was fined $750.

 

Arron Akima Wilson

Arron Wilson, 42, was above the middle limit when police caught him drink-driving at 2am on June 10.

He had been driving on Western Drive, Gatton, when he was pulled over for a random breath test.

The court heard Wilson's test returned a reading of 0.105, though no certificate of analysis was tendered.

Magistrate Peter Saggers noted the reading was "reasonably high".

"It's those sort of readings where you would know that you're over (the limit) when you're driving," Mr Saggers said.

"And of course you would know you put yourself at risk and every other road user at risk."

He pleaded guilty to driving while above the middle alcohol limit was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for six months.

A conviction was recorded.

 

Read more stories by Ebony Graveur.

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