No more drinking for driver

HIGHFIELDS man Christopher Michael Lunney had more incentive than most drink-drivers in not being returned to court for the same offence.

The 46-year-old blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.202 after being pulled over by a police static random breath testing unit on the New England Hwy in Harlaxton about 5pm, October 13, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told yesterday.

Due to the reading, his driver’s licence was immediately suspended and because this was his second drink-driving offence in five years the minimum driving disqualification period was nine months, police prosecutor Senior Constable Julia Wheaton told the court.

Lunney pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while under the influence of liquor.

The court heard the 46-year-old had been diagnosed with hemochromatosis which could effect liver function but until this incident he had not realised that he shouldn’t be drinking alcohol, the court heard.

His doctor had since told him not to drink alcohol.

The loss of his driver’s licence had already impacted on the Highfields resident who had had to hire a taxi to take him to work in Toowoomba and home again, the court heard.

Lunney was deeply embarrassed and ashamed by his behaviour on this night and was grateful police had pulled him over before anything happened, the court heard.

Magistrate Damian Carroll took into account the early plea of guilty and the extra financial burden Lunney would experience due to the loss of his driver’s licence.

Mr Carroll fined him $750 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 10 months.