Drink, drug-drivers cop fines, disqualifications in Ingham court

A NORTH Queensland man caught driving with ice and cannabis in his system on two occasions just a month apart will not be able to legally drive for a significant period of time after appearing in court.

Unemployed labourer Scott Levis Miller, 30, pleaded guilty to drug driving on a provisional licence on January 17 and the additional drug-driving charge on February 17.

Police prosecutor Anita Page tendered to the court Miller’s three-page traffic history, which included two previous drug-drive convictions, for which he was convicted on March 25, 2019.

Defence lawyer Sarah Belford said her client was a recreational drug user who had consumed the drugs in the days prior to the offending “and was of the view that when he drove it wouldn’t be in his system”.

On the first charge, Miller was convicted, fined $750 and disqualified from driving for six months.

One the second charge, the defendant was again convicted, fined $1250 and disqualified for nine months, resulting in a total period of 15 months.

Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said if Miller appeared in court again on charges of a similar nature, the sentence would be beyond a fine.

MARK ROWE

A miscalculation of how much alcohol he had consumed resulted in a second drink-driving retired bus

Charles Rowe.

Ms Page said Rowe, 65, was pulled over on Dutton Street, Ingham, at 5.30pm on February 27, recording 0.053, just over the general alcohol limit.

She said the previous conviction was dated.

Defence lawyer Madeleine D’urso said her client had recently retired and moved to Ingham.

She said that her client had been returning home from the Station Hotel where he had been celebrating an acquaintance’s birthday, a journey of 1.5km.

“The defendant accepts full responsibility for this offence and he’s extremely remorseful for his actions,” she said. conviction for driver Mark

Ms D’urso, in urging the minimum one-month disqualification period and that no conviction be recorded, said the loss of a licence would have a detrimental effect on her client, who lived alone, had limited mobility, could not walk long distances and as a pensioner could not afford taxis.

Rowe was convicted, fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

JESI JAMES NOYESBROCK

Jesi James Noyes-brock pleaded not guilty to a count of drink driving, but changed his mind seconds later, electing after all not to contest the charge.

“Guilty,” Noyes-brock said in relation to driving over the general alcohol limit, recording 0.054, on Mcilwraith Street just after midnight on Saturday, March 20.

Magistrate Luxton said the guilty plea meant NoyesBrock accepted the police statement of facts, to which he agreed.

Ms Page said Noyes-brock, who had no previous drinkdrive convictions, told police he had consumed seven or eight cans of Great Northern heavy beers since about 8pm the previous evening.

Noyes-brock was convicted, fined $450 and disqualified from driving for one month.

BRIDGETTE PALMER

The police prosecution said Bridgette Audrey Palmer smelled of liquor, had dilated pupils and slurred speech when she was pulled over, recording a blood-alcohol reading of 0.99. Palmer, a young woman representing herself, had earlier pleaded guilty to drink driving when she was stopped by Ingham Police at Forrest Beach at 10pm on Wednesday, February 10.

Palmer offered no defence to the charge.

Magistrate Luxton said the offending was aggravated by her status as a provisional licence holder.

Palmer was convicted, fined $900 and disqualified from driving for five months.

“Can I indicate to you that there needs to be a better attitude towards compliance with the rules of the road and also in terms of your consumption of alcohol and getting behind the wheel,” he said.