Man’s stop sign fizzer

HE’S A FREE SPIRIT THAT SEEKS NOT TO BE RESTRAINED BY THE LAWS THAT GOVERN US ALL

ROSS MACK

A MAN who ran a stop sign in a futile attempt to avoid police attention told cops he had wanted his “freedom” to drive.

Callum Clifford-gordon Wyles, 24, was heard in Townsville Magistrates Court to have required an interlock installed in his car in order to drive.

But Wyles thumbed his nose at the law and continued to drive without an exemption for a year until May 14, 2022.

Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon said at 9.20pm on that date, police spotted a Toyota Landcruiser drive through a stop sign on an Ingham road.

Cops saw the car cross to the right side of the road, causing vehicles to take action to avoid colliding with the Landcruiser.

When police stopped the car, officers noticed Wyles’s licence held an interlock condition until May 16, 2023.

Wyles told police he had driven through the stop sign and onto the wrong side of the road because he did not want to be stopped by police and was not driving with due care and attention while driving.

Mr Fenlon told the court that

Wyles said his reason for driving was that he had gone fishing, and that he had been driving for a year without an interlock exemption.

He told police that he had wanted to “have a life and freedom to do what he wants”.

“He’s a free spirit that seeks not to be restrained by the laws that govern us all,” Magistrate Ross Mack said.

Wyles pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, driving without an interlock, and fail to stop at a stop sign at a level crossing.

Wyles’ lawyer, Margaret Crowther said her client had “panicked” when he saw police.

She said he was employed at the Port of Townsville, and that he could pay a fine.

Mr Mack said Wyles’ “cavalier attitude” toward the law could end in custody.

He was fined $1500 and disqualified for six months with a conviction recorded.