Drug drivers and drink drivers face Gladstone Magistrates Court

A machine operator and disability pensioner were among those who fronted Gladstone court for drug or drink driving recently.

Police conduct an RBT operation. Generic image.

The following people pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to either drink driving or drug driving offences.

Drug drivers

Traffic conviction recorded

Leroy Allan Brown, 25

Brown was caught driving with methamphetamine in his system on O’Connell Street, Barney Point, on June 20.

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drug driving, unlicensed driving (SPER suspended), and disqualified driving.

The court heard Brown, currently unemployed having previously worked as a scaffolder, committed the drug driving and unlicensed driving offences on June 20, and then the disqualified driving offence on September 4.

He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for two years and three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Russell Callaghan, 58

Callaghan was caught driving with cannabis in his system on Toolooa Street, Gladstone, on July 27.

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drug driving.

With no similar offending in the past five years, Callaghan, a disability pensioner, was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Michael Anthony Bowen, 25

Bowen was caught driving with cannabis in his system on the Dawson Highway, West Gladstone, on July 21.

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drug driving.

With no prior similar offending, Bowen, a father, was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Timothy James Messer, 27

Messer was caught driving with methamphetamine in his system on Archer Street, Calliope, on July 1.

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drug driving.

The court heard that Messer was a probationary licence holder at the time of the offence.

With a previous similar offence in the past five years, Messer, a machine operator, was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Drivers being stopped for random breath testing. Picture: Kevin Farmer.

Christopher Keith Ruler, 45

Ruler had methamphetamine in his system when police intercepted him driving on Palm Drive, Gladstone, on July 19

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drug driving.

The court heard Ruler had no similar offending on his traffic history but he did have drug offending on his criminal record, and he was undergoing rehabilitation for his drug use with evidence of that tendered to the court.

He was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Alexandra Eboni McLaren, 38

McLaren had both methamphetamine and cannabis in her system when police intercepted her driving on Barney Street, Barney Point, on July 19.

She pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drug driving.

With no prior offending of this sort, McLaren was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Troy Anthony Salam, 53

Salam was caught driving with amphetamine, methamphetamine and cannabis in his system when police intercepted him on Toolooa Street, Gladstone, on April 18.

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 2 to drug driving.

With one prior similar offence in the past five years, Salam, who is employed in a cultural heritage role, was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

High-visibility police operation and RBT on Toowoomba Connection Rd at Withcott, part of Easter road safety campaign, Thursday, April 6, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Drink drivers

Low range drink driving

Traffic conviction recorded

Michael John Lynch, 48

Lynch blew a reading of .054 after he was intercepted on Gladstone Benaraby Road on September 6.

He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drink driving and unlicensed driving.

The court heard Lynch was unlicensed due to a high-speed suspension and he did not realise his licence was suspended.

With a previous drink driving offence from earlier this year on his traffic history, Lynch, an operations manager and a father, was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Monique Nina Dare, 25

Dare blew a reading of .063 after she was intercepted on Malpas Street, Boyne Island, on August 31.

She pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 30 to drink driving.

With no previous similar offending, Dare was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

No traffic conviction recorded

Kelly Anne Hawkins, 58

Hawkins blew a reading of .094 after police intercepted her on Kirkwood Road, Gladstone, on July 4.

She pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on September 2 to drink driving.

With one previous similar offence in the past five years, Hawkins, a disability support worker, was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months.

No traffic conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Drug drivers and drink drivers face Gladstone Magistrates Court