Man fined $750 over ‘brain fart’

A “BRAIN fart” was how a Toowoomba man described his actions in telling police who pulled him over that his name was “See You Later” as he sped away from a police stop.

Timothy Donald Robertson was pulled over by police on Drayton Road, Harristown, about 5pm, April 21, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Realising he was unlicensed at the time, when asked for his licence the 34year-old told police he didn’t have it on him, police prosecutor Julia Wheaton told the court.

When police asked for his surname so they could check the police computer, Robertson had said: “My surname is ‘See You Later’,” and he accelerated away, Senior Constable Wheaton said.

Police checks of his licence confirmed he was driving while unlicensed and officers had gone to his home but he wasn’t there.

He had driven to a mate’s place where his friend told him he should hand himself into police.

About three hours later, Robertson surrendered himself to police in regard to the matter.

When asked why he had driven away like that, he told police he had had a “brain fart”, Snr Const. Wheaton said.

Robertson pleaded guilty to driving while unlicensed and to failing to remain at a place.

His solicitor Brad Skuse, of David Burns Lawyers, told the court the incident had occurred during the COVID restricted time when his client had been at home with his partner and baby.

Running low on baby formula, his client had called his sister in order to obtain some but she couldn’t help.

His partner being disqualified at the time, his client had decided to drive to get some baby formula, he said.

Magistrate Damian Carroll convicted and fined Robertson $750 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for one month.