Capricorn Coast drivers punished for drink, drug or unlicensed driving

A number of motorists who got behind the wheel after drinking, using drugs or while unlicensed have been punished in Yeppoon Magistrates Court. Read the full list here.

A number of motorists who got behind the wheel after drinking, using drugs or while unlicensed have been punished in Yeppoon Magistrates Court.

They all pleaded guilty to to their charges in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on January 6.

Nicholas Lian Munns had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) reading of .177 when he was involved in a single-vehicle crash on the Scenic Highway on December 18, 2021 about 1.25am.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said Munns told police he had been driving home when the suspension at the rear of his vehicle failed, causing the vehicle to veer into an embankment off the side of the road.

Ms Bain said Munns told police he had consumed about three schooners of mid-strength beer before driving and six beers earlier that day while playing golf.

Munns was fined $1000 and was disqualified from driving for nine months with a traffic conviction recorded.

Nicholas Lian Munns appeared in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on January 6, 2022.

Mark Mathew Ein had a BAC reading of .090 when he was intercepted driving along the Scenic Highway, Mulambin, on December 9, 2021 about 4.30pm.

He was fined $600 and disqualified from driving for three months with a traffic conviction recorded.

Brody Joel Ingram had marijuana in his system when he was intercepted driving along Hill Street, Emu Park, on October 24, 2021 at 5.04pm.

Ingram told police he had he had smoked marijuana two days prior to the intercept.

Ingram was fined $400 and disqualified from driving for three months with a traffic conviction recorded.

David John Byrnes was unlicensed when he was intercepted driving in Rosslyn Bay on November 3, 2021 about 6.45am.

Byrnes had one count of driving without a licence disqualified by court order repeat offender.

Checks revealed Byrnes’ driver’s licence had been disqualified in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on September 16, 2021 for three months.

Ms Bain said Byrnes told police he knew he was disqualified and risked driving to drop his daughter off to work.

Byrnes told the court his daughter couldn’t get to work and that he made a “very bad call”.

“I was only one month out from getting my licence back,” he said.

Byrnes was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for two years with a traffic conviction recorded.

David John Byrnes appeared in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on January 6, 2022.

Shane Anthony O’Brien was unlicensed when he was intercepted driving along Hartley Street, Zilzie, on December 10, 2021 at 9am.

O’Brien pleaded guilty one count of driving without a licence demerit points.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said checks revealed the O’Brien’s driver’s licence had been demerit point suspended on November 3, 2021, to February 2, 2022.

O’Brien told the court his mail had not been going to the right place and he had not received any mail regarding the suspension.

“I didn’t know I was suspended,” he said.

O’Brien was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for six months with a traffic conviction recorded.

Melanie Gee Cullinan had marijuana and methamphetamine in her system when she was intercepted driving along Mooloolaba Road, Buderim, on October 12, 2021 at 9.03pm.

She was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for four months with a traffic conviction recorded.

Melanie Gee Cullinan appeared in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on January 6, 2022.

Originally published as Capricorn Coast drivers punished for drink, drug or unlicensed driving