Isaac Anderson: Launceston lawyer guilty of four driving offences

A Tasmanian lawyer has blamed his convoluted share-housing arrangements for the oversight that led to him being charged with four driving offences. He has been sentenced.

West Launceston lawyer Isaac Anderson, 33. Picture: Facebook

A Tasmanian lawyer has blamed his convoluted share-housing arrangements for his driving while on a licence suspended due to the non-payment of parking fines and registration likewise suspended due to the non-replacement of faulty airbags.

West Launceston man Isaac Anderson, 34, a lawyer with local firm Douglas & Collins, pleaded guilty in Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday to four driving charges, all of which stemmed from him driving to Hungry Jack’s South Launceston, just off Pipeworks Rd, on October 23 last year.

The charges were driving while a licence was suspended, using a vehicle with a suspended registration, and using an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

The court heard that Anderson, who is also president of the Launceston Rugby Union Club, was waved down by police as he exited the restaurant just before 6pm and asked about the status of his licence, to which he replied that he “believed he had a full licence”.

It emerged that his licence had been suspended on September 19, 2022, by the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service due to the non-payment of parking fines, while his vehicle’s registration had been suspended on May 26, 2021, due to his failure to replace its faulty Takata airbags.

His registration subsequently lapsed about five months later, on October 1, meaning it was also uninsured.

Defence lawyer Mathew Williams, a colleague of Anderson’s at Douglas & Collins, told the court that his client’s failure to pay his parking fines and replace his airbags could be explained by the defendant’s housing arrangements.

“His living situation may assist in explaining why those notices (advising of Anderson’s impending suspensions) were not brought to his attention,” Mr Williams said.

“He was in a share-house at the time, with the downstairs unit leased by people unknown to him.

“The notices were sent to his address as is required, but he cannot recall receiving those notices, otherwise he instructs he would have promptly attended to those issues.”

Mr Williams said his client was of “good character” and that this was his first time before the courts as a defendant.

Anderson’s registration and licence are both now unencumbered.

Magistrate Simon Brown fined Anderson $450 and ordered he pay court costs of $71.40.

Tassie lawyer fronts court on suite of driving charges

A Tasmanian lawyer has appeared in court charged with four driving offences, including driving while his licence and the vehicle’s registration were suspended.

April 4: West Launceston lawyer Isaac Anderson, 33, appeared in Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday for the first mention of his charges of driving on a suspended licence, using a vehicle with suspended registration, and using an unregistered vehicle with no premium cover.

Tasmania Police alleges that the offences were detected on Pipeworks Rd, South Launceston, on October 23 last year, and involved Mr Anderson driving a Subaru Forester.

Mr Anderson’s defence lawyer, Mathew Williams, a colleague within the same Launceston legal practice the defendant works, requested the charges be adjourned to May 30 without plea.

Magistrate Evan Hughes granted the adjournment.

According to Mr Anderson’s biography on the law firm’s website, he graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelors of Arts and Law in 2016 and has been in his current role since October 2021.

He spent four years working for another northern Tasmanian firm previously and also did a stint in local government, the biography states.

In addition to his professional endeavours, he is heavily involved in the sport of rugby union in Tasmania. He holds the role of president at his local club and is also on the board of Tasmanian Rugby Union.