Drink-drivers sentenced at Bowen Magistrates Court this week

Getting behind the wheel after a few beers has resulted in ‘considerable inconvenience’ for two local men who found themselves in court this week.

Joris Robles had his licence disqualified for four months for drink driving at Bowen. Picture: Facebook.

A French farm worker finds himself in a tough spot after losing his licence for drink-driving.

Joris Robles appeared at Bowen Magistrates Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit on Horseshoe Bay Road on April 23.

He told police he had consumed six beers with friends before testing positive in a roadside breath test about 9.15pm.

A subsequent test returned a reading of 0.114 per cent.

Representing himself in court, Robles told Magistrate Ron Muirhead: “It won’t happen again.”

Mr Muirhead recorded a conviction and imposed an $800 fine.

He disqualified Robles’ licence for four months.

Mr Muirhead also informed Robles that only those who have held a Queensland driver’s licence may apply for a work licence in the state.

Because Robles’ licence was issued in France, he is not be permitted to apply for a work licence to perform his normal farm work duties, which include driving a ute, during the disqualification period.

License loss a ‘considerable inconvenience’

Campbell Douglas Turner also pleaded guilty this week to driving over the general alcohol limit on the Bruce Highway at Bowen.

The Bowen court heard Turner consumed three to five cans of mid-strength beer before testing positive in a roadside breath test at 2.35pm on April 4.

A subsequent test returned a reading of 0.081 per cent.

Turner’s solicitor Kevin Baxter argued a licence disqualification would cause his client “considerable inconvenience”.

The Brisk Bay man was in the process of selling off farms he owned in the Delta area, and needed to make the 30km journey out to the farms to complete work daily, Mr Baxter said.

Magistrate Ron Muirhead recorded a conviction and imposed a $500 fine.

He disqualified Turner’s licence for two months.

Originally published as Drink-drivers sentenced at Bowen Magistrates Court this week