Whitsunday drink or drug drivers face Proserpine and Bowen courts

From too many beers to driving on medicinal cannabis, these motorists have faced the consequences for getting behind the wheel.

Amy Mary Comerford Maloney faced Proserpine Magistrates Court charged with driving under the influence.

These Whitsunday drink or drug drivers were busted behind the wheel and over the limit, now they have faced the consequences.

DRINK DRIVERS

Aaron Joseph Clarke 

Aaron Joseph Clarke was charged with driving while over the middle alcohol limit in a roadside breath test on Shute Harbor Road in Airlie Beach on 14 December.

After recording a BAC of 0.141g he told police he had eight to 10 pre-mix Jack Daniels before he got behind the wheel.

Clarke pleaded guilty in Proserpine Magistrates Court appearing self represented and requesting a restricted license so he could continue his work as a truck driver.

Magistrate Anna Smith said she took into account the fact he had a limited history and had been off the road for six weeks at the time of his sentence as well as the seriousness of the offence.

“You're at the higher end of that particular range,” she said.

Clarke was fined $650 and was disqualified from holding a licence for 4 months and a restricted licence was issued for work purposes.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Amy Mary Comerford Maloney

About 1am on 7 January, police pulled over Amy Mary Comerford Maloney for a random roadside breath test on Shute Harbor Road, Cannonvale, where she recorded a 0.172BAC.

Police noted they could smell liquor on Comerford Maloney’s breath and she had bloodshot eyes at the time of the offending and when questioned she told police she had four drinks before she drove that night.

The court heard the 26 year old from Ireland had been living in Australia on a work visa for the past two years.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosemary Varley appeared as duty lawyer for Comerford Maloney, saying she made a “great error in judgment” driving that night.

She also noted Comerford Maloney’s visa could be jeopardised by the charges.

Magistrate Anna Smith said this was not the first time Comerford Maloney had been charged with drink driving in the country, having been disqualified on 4 December, 2023.

“I would expect you to have no traffic history,” she said given the limited time she had been in Australia.

Comerford Maloney pleaded guilty to the charge, received a $1100 fine and was disqualified for 11 months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Aron Rees Powell

Aron Rees Powell was pulled over by Bowen police on Christmas Day for a speeding offence but when he was breath tested he blew over the limit, returning a 0.185BAC.

The 29 year old told police at the time that he had been drinking until about 10 minutes prior to being pulled over.

The Bowen Magistrates court heard Powell had only recently relocated to Bowen and had no explanation for driving and would lose his employment until his licence was reinstated.

Magistrate Anna Smith took into account that he had no charges of a like nature since 2015 but said the reading was too high for the minimum sentence.

“As someone that relies on their licence for work and income, it’s a pretty foolish thing to do,” she said.

Powell was fined $1000 and received a nine month disqualification.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

DRUG DRIVERS

Zachery Tai Dawson 

P plater Zachery Tai Dawson was caught driving with marijuana in his saliva which he said he used for pain relief.

Dawson, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to the charge, telling the court he was sorry for being irresponsible that day.

The Bowen Magistrates Court heard when the 29 year old was pulled over for roadside testing on 5 November, he denied any recent drug use before returning the positive result.

He told the court that he had not had any drugs that day but it was unfortunately not out of his system.

Dawson pleaded guilty to driving with a relevant drug in his system, was fined $450 and disqualified from holding a licence for three months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Aron Rees Powell faced Bowen Magistrates Court charged with driving under the influence.

Matt Kador Dean 

Matt Kador Dean faced Proserpine Magistrates Court pleading guilty to driving with a relevant drug in his system after he was pulled over in Cannonvale, testing positive for marijuana.

Dean said the drug was prescribed for medical reasons saying it was a “flawed system” that saw him charged even though it was a medication.

“I don’t feel like I was under the influence,” he said.

Magistrate Anna Smith noted he was not charged with being under the influence, just that it was in his saliva.

He pleaded guilty to the charge admitting that the drug was in his saliva.

Dean received a $350 fine and was disqualified for 1 month.

A traffic conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Whitsunday drink or drug drivers face Proserpine and Bowen courts