‘I am drunk’, driver admitted to cops, court hears

AT LEAST this drink-driver was co-operative with police who pulled him over on a Toowoomba street.

“I am drunk,” Curtis Ryan Hill told officers who had spotted him going through two red traffic lights on West St about 12.20am, February 21, and pulled him over, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The 26-year-old told police he had been drinking since 11am the day before and had downed 18 rum and cola cans and about half a carton of wine, police prosecutor Christie Mahoney told the court.

He blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.184, Senior Constable Mahoney said.

Hill told police he had been arguing with his girlfriend and wanted to get away from her and go to his mother’s home in Cherbourg, the court heard.

He had been co-operative and police with police throughout, Snr Const. Mahoney said.

Hill pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor.

His lawyer Peter Sloane told the court his client had been drinking at home and had had no intention of driving until he got into an argument with his girlfriend.

Magistrate Damian Carroll noted Hill had already been off the road for one month and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for a further nine months and fined him $900.

Mr Carroll ordered the conviction not be recorded.