Wake-up call for P-plater

POLICE found a man slumped over the wheel of his car sitting at a set of traffic lights who attempted to drive off after police woke him up.

Kai David Mittereger, 21, told police he was driving to buy water from a Nightowl at 5am on April 4 this year.

The Townsville Magistrates Court heard police noticed Mittereger stopped at a red light at the intersection of Stanley and Flinders streets.

Police prosecutor Felicity Nalder said police pulled up alongside the car and it appeared the man was asleep.

“One of the police got out of the vehicle and yelled at the male to wake up and then opened the driver’s door and the male woke up.”

The court heard Mittereger attempted to drive off while the officer held open the door.

Ms Nalder said police yelled at Mittereger to get out of the car and while sitting on the footpath, he told police he had no recollection of the incident.

“He appeared to be very confused. He had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet with very glazed eyes,” she said.

The provisional licence holder returned a roadside breath analysis of .021, the court heard. He pleaded guilty to two charges, including drive without due care and attention.

Defence lawyer Richard Scholl told the court the electrical apprentice had taken medication for a root canal.

“He didn’t account for the combination of the pain medication, exhaustion and the small amount of alcohol that he had consumed,” he said.

Mittereger was fined $550 and disqualified from driving for three months. No convictions were recorded.