Teenage driver Ella Van Hese was subject to a high-speed suspension and conditions when she was caught breaking a late-night curfew

Getting caught driving 41kmh over the speed limit was the start of a Yeppoon teenager’s troubles.

Ella Van Hese.

A Capricorn Coast teenager caught breaking a late-night driving curfew imposed after she committed a high-speed offence, has faced court.

Ella Van Hese, 18, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on September 23 to her offending.

The court heard that on May 12 about 12.15am, police were patrolling Matthew Flinders Drive at Cooee Bay when they saw Van Hese driving.

Checks revealed that Van Hese had a suspended licence.

Van Hese told police that she thought her driver’s licence was current because she had taken a “good behaviour driver option” after being issued a traffic infringement for a high-speed offence on January 5 where she was caught doing 41km/h over the speed limit.

In court, the prosecution said that as a result of the speeding offence, Van Hese’s licence was subject to a high-speed suspension until September 3.

It said Van Hese was also subject to a demerit-point suspension, for which she had taken a “good behaviour driving option” until February 8, 2022.

As part of that, Van Hese was under a late-night driving restriction prohibiting her from driving at the time she was caught on May 12.

Van Hese’s solicitor said Van Hese believed she could drive after taking the good behaviour driver option through Department of Transport processes.

“What has occurred is a reasonable mistaken belief,” the solicitor said.

“Not a defence, but gives some background as to why it occurred.

“Other than that, she has already been, for the last four months, without a licence.”

Magistrate Cameron Press said the minimum mandatory driving disqualification he could impose was six months.

He also fined Van Hese $250.

Originally published as Teenage driver Ella Van Hese was subject to a high-speed suspension and conditions when she was caught breaking a late-night curfew