Traffic offenders who faced Gladstone Magistrates Court

Here’s what happened to five Gladstone region traffic offenders when they faced court this week.

Police carry out an RBT operation. Generic image.

The following people pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court this week to traffic offending on the region’s roads.

Jeffrey Mcartney, 43

Jeffrey Mcartney blew a reading of .135 when he was caught drink driving on the Dawson Highway at Calliope on January 23.

The Gladstone court heard on February 20 when Mcartney pleaded guilty to drink driving, that the father of two had been drinking heavy beers before being intercepted by police.

With a previous drink driving offence on his history in 2020, Mcartney, who works as a roller operator, was fined $850 and disqualified from driving for five months.

Victor Adrian Araos-Vella, 35

Victor Adrian Araos-Vella was caught driving while SPER suspended on the Bruce Highway at Iveragh on November 27 last year.

The Gladstone court heard on February 20, when Araos-Vella pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving, that police initially caught him speeding en route to Bowen and subsequent checks confirmed his driver’s licence was suspended.

Araos-Vella was issued with a speeding infringement and for the unlicensed driving charge, he was fined $250 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Melanee Jean Ruskin-Introna, 48

Melanee Jean Ruskin-Introna was caught driving while SPER suspended on Roe Street, Miriam Vale, on January 17.

When Ruskin-Introna pleaded guilty in the Gladstone court on February 20 to unlicensed driving, it heard her driver’s licence had been suspended due to non payment of outstanding fines.

Self represented in court, Ruskin-Introna said she “had no idea” her licence had been suspended.

She was fined $250 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Karlinna May Clark, 31

Karlinna May Clark blew a reading of .032 when she was caught driving with an expired driver’s licence on the Dawson Highway at Mt Alma, on December 25 last year.

The court heard on February 21 when Clark pleaded guilty to driving while over the no alcohol limit while unlicensed, that she was a mother who worked in the hospitality industry.

With no offending of this sort previously, Clark was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Reece Noel Baldwin, 26

Reece Noel Baldwin was caught driving while SPER suspended on the Dawson Highway at Calliope on December 17 last year.

When Baldwin pleaded guilty in the Gladstone court on February 21 to unlicensed driving, it heard he was a business owner with no previous offending of this sort on his traffic history.

Baldwin was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Originally published as Traffic offenders who faced Gladstone Magistrates Court