Axl Maitland Pitman, Andrew Johnson, Rachel Aliyah Warwick, Lucas Buron Santa Maria caught drink driving

From jumping on the golf buggy to get to work to cramming four people in the back seat after a couple of drinks, these drivers had far too much liquor to be driving.

Axl Maitland Pitman appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on 26 May charged with driving without a licence and drink driving.

These Whitsunday drivers chose to get behind the wheel after drinking, landing themselves in trouble with the law.

Axl Maitland Pitman 

Axl Maitland Pitman was caught driving without a licence twice in one week and on one of those occasions he was over the alcohol limit as well.

The 32-year-old was pulled over on Waterson Way, Airlie Beach for random breath testing at around 12.10am on 6 May.

Mr Pitman told police he did not have his drivers licence on him and had just driven from Western Australia to Airlie Beach.

Police confirmed he did not hold a current drivers licence as it had been cancelled in April 2021 due to unpaid fines.

The court heard police noticed Mr Pitman’s eyes were glassy and he was speaking slowly.

Further breath testing returned a reading of 0.198g of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

Police presented him with a notice of licence disqualification.

On 10 May at around 10.30pm Mr Pitman was pulled over for another random breath test on Shute Harbor Road, Cannonvale.

Police checks confirmed his licence was suspended.

The court heard Mr Pitman had a history of similar offending in Western Australia.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosie Varley appeared as duty lawyer on behalf of the cabinet maker and told the court he had only moved to Queensland six to eight weeks ago to work as a bar manager at the Airlie Beach Hotel.

“Would have thought that’s not an ideal choice of work for you given your history of drink driving,” said Magistrate Anna Smith.

Ms Varley said there was no excuse for driving and Mr Pitman was remorseful.

“It’s appalling offending,” said Magistrate Smith.

Mr Pitman pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, driving while disqualified, and driving without a licence demerit point suspended.

For driving under the influence of liquor he was fined $1000 and disqualified from holding a drivers licence for nine months.

For driving without a licence he was fined $200 and disqualified from driving for six months.

For driving while disqualified he was fined $300 and disqualified from holding a drivers licence for two years.

Convictions were recorded.

Andrew Johnson 

Hamilton Island executive chef Andrew Johnson landed himself in hot water when he was caught driving a golf buggy while over the limit.

The 42-year-old was pulled over on Melaleuca Drive while driving to work at around 12pm on 10 May.

Mr Johnson told police at the time he had consumed eight ciders the night prior and didn’t think he would still be over the limit.

Further testing returned a result of 0.189g of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

Andrew Johnson appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on 26 May charged with drink driving.

Solicitor at Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors, Jakhobi Moren, said Mr Johnson had moved to Hamilton Island three months ago after living in Melbourne caring for his sick mother.

She said his mother’s health had deteriorated recently and he had used alcohol to cope with the stress, causing his increased alcohol consumption.

Ms Moren noted it was important that Mr Johnson be able to drive for work as his employer had told him it was a requirement of his position that he be able to travel between venues on the island.

They were waiting to hear the outcome of the court proceedings before determining whether his employment would continue.

Ms Moren said Mr Johnson accepted that the amount of alcohol he told police he had consumed was not consistent with the reading and could not reliably recall how much alcohol he had consumed.

She said he was remorseful.

Magistrate Anna Smith said clearly he had been drinking that morning to have a reading that high.

“It didn’t just come from the night before you don’t get that level if you had a break,” she said.

Mr Johnson pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.

He was fined $1100 and disqualified from holding a licence for seven months.

Magistrate Smith said given the high reading his sentence should have been higher but she took into account his previous traffic and criminal history, Queensland Traffic Offenders Program completion, and the fact he had been off the road for three weeks.

Convictions were recorded.

Rachel Aliyah Warwick appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on 26 May charged with drink driving.

Rachel Aliyah Warwick 

Rachel Aliyah Warwick made the decision to get behind the wheel after a big night at Paddy’s Shenanigans in Airlie Beach.

The 23-year-old from Hawaii was pulled over on Hermitage Drive at around 2.30am on 18 May and told police she had consumed five tequila and sodas between 6pm and 11pm.

Further breath testing returned a reading of 0.157g of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosie Varley appeared as duty lawyer on behalf of Ms Warwick, telling the court she had arrived in the Whitsundays in the middle of February on a working visa.

“This is her first time before a court,” said Ms Varley.

“It has certainly been a wakeup call to her”

Ms Varley told the court Ms Warwick had no like offending in her traffic history and prior speeding offences were in the process of being dealt with by the Department of Main Roads due to a friend driving her car.

Magistrate Anna Smith said her traffic history appeared as though she didn’t care as she was only here on a working holiday.

“You shouldn’t have any [traffic history] at 23 years of age or very limited and you’ve only been here for a couple of months,” she said.

Ms Warwick pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor.

She was fined $1000 and disqualified from holding a drivers licence for six months.

Convictions were recorded.

Lucas Buron Santa Maria 

Airlie Beach chef Lucas Buron Santa Maria was caught by police drink driving with more passengers than his vehicle allowed with his only excuse being that his friend broke the heel on her shoe.

Mr Buron Santa Maria was pulled over on Shute Harbor Road, Airlie Beach at around 3.24am on 9 May after police noticed the vehicle had two people in the front seat and four people in the back seat.

The maximum capacity of the vehicle was five people.

Mr Buron Santa Maria told police he had consumed two drinks that night and had no reason to drive other than to take his friends home.

Further testing returned a reading of 0.073g of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosie Varley appeared as duty lawyer on behalf of the 27-year-old telling the court he was “genuinely remorseful.”

She said his reason for driving was that one of his friends had broken the heel on her shoe and lived up a hill.

“Took a risk and it is a foolish one,” she said.

Ms Varley said Mr Buron Santa Maria had been living in the Whitsundays for 6 months on a working holiday visa.

She noted that he had no criminal or traffic history.

Magistrate Anna Smith said the drink driving charge was aggravated by having six people in the car, one without a seatbelt but accepted it was out of character.

Mr Buron Santa Maria pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit and exceeding the capacity of his vehicle.

He received a $700 fine and was disqualified from holding a drivers licence for two months.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Axl Maitland Pitman, Andrew Johnson, Rachel Aliyah Warwick, Lucas Buron Santa Maria caught drink driving