Driver blows almost fives times legal limit

A TOOWOOMBA man caught driving with a breath/ alcohol level almost five times the legal limit was not only a danger to himself but to other road users, a magistrate has told him.

As a nurse, Damon Collin Greaves had worked in hospital emergency departments and knew only too well of the possible consequences of drink-driving, he told Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

“I apologise to the court and to the people of Toowoomba,” the self-represented Greaves said.

“I am very remorseful, I can’t believe I did that.”

Police prosecutor Catherine Steele told the court a police patrol on Prince St, Harlaxton, about 12.17am, February 20, saw a car coming in the other direction that had accelerated as it passed the police vehicle and veered onto the wrong side of the road.

The police patrol had turned and followed the car to a residence where they spoke with the 41-year-old who admitted to having just driven two friends home, she said.

Admitting he had been drinking throughout the evening with the friends at home, Greaves said he had had at least eight mid-strength beers.

After testing positive to alcohol during a road-side breath test, the 41-year-old was taken to Toowoomba Police Station for a breath analysis which returned a breath/alcohol reading of 0.236, Ms Steele said.

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

He told the court that he had recently scored his “dream job” which was situated near his home and that, fortunately, he would be able to walk to work, realising he would be without his driver’s licence for some time.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie told the nurse that he would be fully aware as to the consequences of high-range drinkdriving.

Ms Pirie told Greaves he would also be subject to the interlock provisions which would mean when he eventually got his driver’s licence back he would have to have a breathoperated interlock fitted at considerable added expense to himself.

Ms Pirie fined Greaves $1500 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 16 months.

I APOLOGISE TO THE COURT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF TOOWOOMBA.

DAMON COLLIN GREAVES