Mackay’s drink and drug-drivers named and shamed

They had too much to drink, or took an illicit substance, before getting behind the wheel of a car. Read the list of Mackay and Whitsunday’s drink and drug-drivers who faced court this week.

They had too much to drink, or took an illicit substance, before getting behind the wheel.

Read the list of Mackay and Whitsunday’s drink or drug-drivers who faced court this week.

Tisharnie Lorraine Kelly

A Mackay woman has been given the red light on driving after a late-night car crash.

Tisharnie Lorraine Kelly was the driver during a single-vehicle crash on the night of December 10, 2021.

Kelly crashed her car into a traffic light on the corner of George and Milton St in South Mackay about 6.20pm.

Tisharnie Lorraine Kelly pleaded guilty to drink driving after crashing into a set of traffic lights in Mackay. Picture: Contributed

When police attended, she had a 0.182 per cent blood alcohol concentration.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court the former chef told police at the scene she was driving from her friend’s house to a bottle shop to buy more alcohol.

She had already consumed five vodka Cruisers.

Kelly said in court she had told police on the night of the incident she was on her way to the bottle-o, but disputed that detail as it was in the opposite direction of her travel.

Tisharnie Lorraine Kelly pleaded guilty to drink-driving after crashing into a set of traffic lights in Mackay. Picture: Contributed

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said “there are a lot of bottle shops in Mackay”, and suggested she may have been heading to a different store.

Kelly pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, and was fined $1000.

Mr Dwyer said he was hesitant on offering a larger fine, as he expected she would soon receive an invoice for the damaged traffic lights.

A conviction was not recorded.

Tabitha Leigh Barr

The Townsville-based administration worker and mother-of-two told Bowen Magistrates Court she “genuinely thought [she] was doing the right thing” when she got behind the wheel a number of hours after a drinking session.

The court heard Barr blew 0.079 BAC when police stopped her on Mitchell Street, Bowen just before 9pm on December 4.

Barr told officers she began drinking about 11am that day, consuming six to seven cans of Canadian Club in total.

She pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit but told the court she had thought she was OK to drive as she had stopped drinking after lunch, then went swimming and out for dinner.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy fined Barr $500 and disqualified her licence for two months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Kermo Kapten

A man who was “a long way from home” was caught driving through Mackay’s streets while high on drugs.

Kermo Kapten, who was born in Estonia, was stopped for a roadside saliva test at 11.40pm on September 19, 2021.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the saliva test returned a positive result, suggesting MDMA was present in his system.

On January 5, 2022, Kapten pleaded guilty to driving while a drug was present in his system.

He said he had “been law-abiding my whole life”.

Kapten was fined $400 and was disqualified from driving for four months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Tui Guy Mooney

A provisional driver was caught behind the wheel of his car drunk while he was incorrectly displaying his P-plates.

Tui Guy Mooney was stopped on Shoal Point Rd, Shoal Point, at 5am on October 2, 2021, driving his Honda sedan.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Mooney had a 0.099 per cent BAC after a roadside breath test and was driving his car with no P-plates visible.

Tui Guy Mooney pleaded guilty to drink-driving in Mackay. Picture: Contributed

The court heard it was not his first drink-driving offence, with previous offences on his record three years ago.

Mooney pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit while holding a provisional licence, as well as driving a car without red P-plates fitted in the required way.

Mooney said he had been called into work the morning after drinking and he had “forgotten” he had consumed alcohol the night before.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said Mooney was “silly” for drink-driving.

“What part of zero limit don’t you understand?” he said.

Mooney was fined $850 and his licence was disqualified for eight months.

A conviction was recorded.

Dylan Glen Maclean

A single father will rely on a strong friendship with a workmate after losing his licence in January.

Dylan Glen Maclean was caught drink-driving on Moore Street, Mirani, on December 18.

Police stopped his car at 2am, with Maclean driving and a female passenger in the car.

Maclean was unable to produce a licence for the police officer, and returned a 0.130 BAC.

He faced court on January 5, and told Magistrate Damien Dwyer he had begun taking steps towards becoming sober.

“I’ve recently started attending Alcoholics Anonymous,” he said.

“I’m a newly single father.”

Dylan Glen Maclean was arrested for drink-driving in Mackay. Picture: Contributed

When Mr Dwyer asked if losing his licence would cost him his job, Maclean said he did not know but he had a colleague who agreed to give him a lift each day.

“A mate from work lives in Mirani and pulls into my house to pick me up before work, and drops me home after,” he said.

“You better make sure you don’t fall out with him,” Mr Dwyer said in response.

Maclean did not qualify for a work licence, as he had been found guilty of driving while three times more than the legal alcohol limit in 2019.

He pleaded guilty to driving while over the middle alcohol limit, was fined $950 and his licence was disqualified for 10 months.

A conviction was recorded.

Bradley James Adamson

A “silly mistake” may cost a Mackay man his job after another drug-driving incident.

Bradley James Anderson was stopped on the Bruce Highway at The Leap on November 4, 2021.

Mackay Magistrates Court herd he was tested for drugs in his system at 12.43pm, and returned a positive result with methylamphetamine present.

The tree logger told police he had used ice the day before, but he was not sure how much.

Anderson was on a provisional at the time.

He told Magistrate Damien Dwyer that it was a “silly mistake”.

“Well, it’s another one, isn’t it?” Dwyer said.

“Your traffic record leaves much to be desired.

“It’s going to cost you further, you put innocent lives at risk.”

Anderson was disqualified from driving for eight months and was fined $850.

A conviction was recorded.

Miranda Lee Reynolds pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva. Picture: Facebook

Miranda Lee Reynolds

The bond cleaner did not admit to recent drug use when police stopped her for a test on Leichhardt Street, Bowen on October 25, but did say she had “been around people smoking crack the night before”.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard the provisional licence holder tested positive for methamphetamine.

She pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug was present in blood or saliva.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy fined Reynolds $500 and disqualified her licence for nine months, with a conviction recorded.

Ian Robert Williams

Police caught the renderer driving on the Bruce Highway at Bowen with methamphetamine and marijuana in his system on October 29.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard Williams had a conviction for the same offence in 2020.

He pleaded guilty to driving while a relevant drug is present in blood or saliva.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy fined Williams $500 and disqualified his licence for three months, with a conviction recorded.

Originally published as Mackay’s drink and drug-drivers named and shamed