Latest round of drink or drug drivers named in Roma Magistrates Court
The latest round of drink or drug drivers have faced Roma Magistrates Court for being behind the wheel despite consuming booze or drugs. Full list here.
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A father who told police he smoked four cones of cannabis the night before getting behind the wheel has landed in court.
Timothy James Faint pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on April 7 about 7.25am police were conducting roadside drug and breath tests near the Roma truck pads on the Warrego Highway.
Faint was intercepted and produced a positive saliva test for cannabis.
The court was told Faint admitted to having about three or four cones of cannabis the night prior and often smokes to help him deal with pain from a 2001 surgery.
Defence lawyer Phillip Costello said his client simply didn’t know drugs can stay in your system that long.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice said he acknowledged the defendant’s “minor traffic history” and how he has no prior convictions for this offence.
Faint was handed a $300 fine referred to SPER and a one month driving disqualification.
A conviction was recorded.
•
Sticking to mid-strength beers didn’t do any favours for this St George man who was caught intoxicated behind the wheel.
Andrew James Hart pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on April 30 police were conducting roadside breath and drug tests near the truck pads on the Warrego Highway, Roma.
A red Mitsubishi Triton driven by the defendant was pulled over while on his way back home to St George.
Hart produced a positive test with a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.073.
He admitted to having five to six Great Northern Super Crisps throughout the day after playing rugby.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice handed him a $500 fine referred to SPER and disqualified him from driving for six weeks.
A conviction was recorded.
•
When Roma police stopped a man on his way to buy more beers they uncovered the true extent of his offending, slapping him with five charges.
Ryan David John Duck pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit, driving uninsured, driving unregistered and driving twice while suspended.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on April 22 police intercepted Duck on Bungil St, Roma leaving the Cellarbrations store for a breath test and licence check.
Police could smell alcohol on his breath and the defendant admitted to consuming five XXXX Gold cans over a five hour period and was buying more beers.
Breath test analysis revealed he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.054 and police uncovered he was also not the holder of a driver’s licence.
The court was told Duck’s vehicle wasn’t registered or insured either.
Further, on May 25 police spotted Duck driving unlicensed again on the Warrego Highway.
Duck told police he was aware his licence was suspended and that he had paid for renewal, however he could not provide any proof of payment for renewal.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice handed Duck a combined $1750 fine referred to SPER for all offences and disqualified him from driving for a combined four months.
Convictions were recorded.
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A 34-year-old truck driver has landed back in court for the first time in nearly a decade, blaming the effects of a surgery from seven years ago and undiagnosed depression for his drink driving.
Reuben Kyle Dorries pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to driving over the general alcohol limit and failing to record in his vehicle log book.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on April 21 at 10.30am Blackall Police intercepted a prime mover on the Landsborough Highway for a licence check, roadside breath test and logbook compliance check.
Dorries, who was driving back home to Roma, returned a positive result with a blood alcohol reading of 0.075 and hadn’t recorded his driving for the day in the vehicle logbook.
“He wasn’t transporting livestock on the day, just driving home to Roma from Barcaldine, even though that doesn’t excuse the offending,” Defence lawyer Mr van der Hoven said.
“The period he has off the road is going to be a period in which he makes no money in order to support his family.”
“He undertook a surgery in 2016, which was a bariatric surgery, which reduced his stomach size and he went from a 170kg to 100kg which is the weight he maintains now.”
Mr van der Hoven said the defendant’s surgery altered his metabolism and changed his ability to break down alcohol and that he’s also been struggling with undiagnosed depression.
He handed Dorries a combined $800 fine referred to SPER and disqualified him from driving for two months.
Convictions were recorded.
•
A 21-year-old Roma father was busted drug driving during a takeaway pick-up while on his L-plates.
Tristan James Yates pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drug driving on a learner licence.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said that on April 27 police intercepted a Holden Rodeo on Bowen St, Roma for a licence check and drug test.
Despite initially denying he had consumed any illegal drugs in the past two weeks, Yates returned a positive drug test reading.
He admitted to using cannabis the night before and was issued a notice to appear in the Roma Magistrates Court.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice said it was a foolish decision to drive considering the defendant had a female passenger with an open licence.
Yates was fined $400 referred to SPER and disqualified from driving for three months.
A conviction was recorded.
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A P-plater caught drink driving was also busted for carrying drugs and a knife in public.
Angus Scott Kennewell, 23, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit, possessing a dangerous drug, carrying a knife in public and not correctly displaying his P-plates.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on February 22 Roma Police conducting patrols in the CBD intercepted a vehicle for a breath test and licence check.
“They observed it swerving over the road and at one point the entire vehicle was fully on the other side of the road,” Mr Donnelly said.
“Police performed a licence check, indicating he is currently holding a P1 licence and did not have the correct red P-plates on the rear or on front.
“The P-plate on the front was lying on the dashboard of the vehicle not in a visible position.
“As he exited the vehicle, police observed he was unsteady on his feet and smelled of cannabis.”
Breath test analysis revealed Kennewell had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.034 over the zero limit for provisional licence holders.
When police began searching Kennewell’s vehicle on suspicion of drugs, he admitted to having cannabis in the front console of the vehicle and said he smoked cannabis 45 minutes prior to being intercepted.
Defence lawyer Phillip Costello said his client was remorseful for his actions and had several reasons for his offending.
“The fact he was in possession of drugs was used as pain relief for his broken ankle,” he said.
“There was no intent to use the knife, it wasn’t going to be used as a weapon at all.
“The P-plate, your honour, he just didn’t realise it had fallen off.
“The drink drive I can only put down to being stupid, it was a very stupid thing to do.”
Kennewell was fined $1400 for all offences, and convictions were recorded.
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A livestock truck driver who sped away from police, turned off his headlights and drove on the wrong side of the road told police that he was unaware they were trying to pull him over.
Mitchell Kevin Crane pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to drink driving over the general alcohol limit and driving without due care, with a charge of evading police dropped after no evidence was provided.
Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on February 8 Roma Police were conducting roadside breath tests on Raglan St when they saw a Holden Commodore turn onto Currey St.
The court was told police proceeded to follow the vehicle and activated their lights and sirens.
The 25-year-old then accelerated, switched his headlights off and drove on the wrong side of the road.
As police began to abandon their search, Crane’s brake lights gave him away as he turned onto a dirt road.
He admitted to consuming alcohol within the past 24 hours, with breath analysis revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.075.
“He stated he did not know police were trying to intercept him and could not see police lights or sirens,” Mr Donnelly said.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice fined Crane a total of $1000 and disqualified him from driving for two months.
Convictions were recorded.
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Originally published as Latest round of drink or drug drivers named in Roma Magistrates Court
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