Lucy Booth caught drink driving twice at Yeppoon in just hours

Security at Yeppoon’s Strand Hotel gave police the initial tip about a drink driver but things were about to get a whole lot worse for the teen.

Lucy Ella Booth.

A Yeppoon teenager caught drink driving twice in as many hours has paid a hefty price for her double blunder.

Lucy Ella Booth, 18, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to two counts of drink driving and one count of unlicensed driving.

Police prosecutor Brandy Butler said about 2am on January 12, police were notified by security at The Strand Hotel, Yeppoon, that Booth had consumed “a large amount of alcohol” at the venue.

Ms Butler said police saw Booth drive out of a nearby carpark and they intercepted her.

The prosecutor said Booth told police she had been drinking Vodka at The Strand.

She returned a blood alcohol reading of .158.

Booth was charged and also issued with a notice of driver’s licence suspension which prevented her from driving until her court date.

But not long later, about 3.30am, police were doing mobile patrols when they caught Booth driving again on Anzac Parade, the court heard.

Lucy Ella Booth.

“She stated (to police) that she was aware her licence was suspended, however she drove to find a friend,” Ms Butler said.

After another breath test, Booth blew a reading of .138.

The court heard Booth had no traffic history and no criminal history.

Solicitor Oscar Millroy said Booth worked as a childcare educator in Yeppoon and she knew what she did was “extremely reckless and idiotic” by her own admission.

Mr Millroy said prior to Booth’s court appearance, she had completed a roads and traffic education program, and the imminent licence disqualification period would be a “big shock to the system” for her.

Mr Millroy said Booth had been upfront and honest with her employer about her offending and she was willing to accept whatever penalty the court imposed “essentially to own up for her actions.”

Magistrate Lance Rundle fined Booth $1500 and imposed licence disqualifications of two years, six months and three months respectively.

Booth was advised to check with the Department of Transport to find out if those disqualifications were cumulative or concurrent.

No traffic convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Lucy Booth caught drink driving twice at Yeppoon in just hours