L-plater fled with lights off
A 21-YEAR-OLD L-plater acted “totally selfishly” when he turned off his headlights and drove on the wrong side of the road to avoid police.
Corey Taylor, from Hoppers Crossing, failed to stop for police who had their lights and sirens on during an intercept after 1am on January 28.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard police began to pursue the unaccompanied Lplater who then turned off his headlights and drove on to the wrong side of Woods Rd in St Albans Park in an attempt to avoid police.
Taylor appeared before magistrate Michael Coghlan charged with dangerous driv- ing while being pursued, unlicensed driving, unaccompanied driving, failure to display L-plates and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.
Mr Coghlan said Taylor, who pleaded guily to all charges, behaved “totally selfishly to act the way (he) did”.
Taylor’s offending was too serious for a fine, Mr Coghlan said.
“There has to be a message sent to the community,” he said. “If people are turning their lights off and driving on the wrong side of the road at 1am to avoid police, that is very serious.”
The court was told Taylor fled from his car, jumped into a bush and had to be capsicum sprayed beore police could arrest him. Taylor then refused to be interviewed.
Mr Coglan ordered Taylor’s licence to be suspended and disqualified him from driving for 15 months. Taylor, who has a mild disability, is being assessed for a community corrections order.
The case has been adjourned until September 24.