P-plater Braden Mcclelland fined for Farnborough Beach hooning

Police caught a P-plater doing “multiple doughnuts” on a popular Central Queensland beach - but that wasn’t the young driver’s only mistake.

The sign just before the Bangalee access ramp to Farnborough Beach, off Hinz Avenue.

A P-plater busted doing “doughnuts” on a popular Yeppoon beach has been dealt with in court.

Braden Thomas Mcclelland, 20, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on Thursday to failing to have proper control of a vehicle and failing to display P-plates, and his matters were dealt with ex parte by Magistrate Cameron Press.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said about 3pm on August 4, police were conducting patrols of Farnborough Beach when they saw Mcclelland doing “multiple doughnuts” on the beach in a red Holden ute.

“The rear tyres of the vehicle were clearly losing traction in the sand,” Mr O’Connor said.

A vehicle access to Farnborough Beach at Yeppoon.

The prosecutor said Mcclelland was on a provisional driver’s licence and his vehicle did not have P-plates displayed as required.

“When asked (by police) about his manner of driving (Mcclelland) stated he was aware he should not have been driving in such a manner,” Mr O’Connor said.

The prosecutor said Mcclelland was issued with two infringement notices and he elected to have the matters heard in court.

Magistrate Press fined Mcclelland $650 and traffic convictions were recorded.

Safety on Farnborough Beach has been a much talked about community issue for many years and in 2021 a Livingstone Shire councillor said there was a need for “greater enforcement of the (traffic) rules” there.

Originally published as P-plater Braden Mcclelland fined for Farnborough Beach hooning