Mother fined for drunk beach drive

A MOTHER has told a Townsville court her four-year-old daughter had been told “several times” to put her seatbelt back on before she was pulled over and found to be drink-driving.

Stacey Haley Malcolm pleaded guilty on Tuesday to driving over the general alcohol limit and failing to ensure a child four years or under was in a child restraint. Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon said Malcolm was spotted driving “slowly” on a beach used by motorists in a silver Toyota Hilux at 11am on August 22.

Police saw a “small child” in the back seat of the car who was standing up. A child car seat was fitted, but it wasn’t being used by the fouryear-old at the time.

Malcolm told officers she had been drinking the night before, but had stopped at 1am.

A blood alcohol reading of .088 was recorded. Magistrate Cathy Wadley said she took into account Malcolm’s letter of remorse.

“You co-operated (with police) … it was a short distance,” Ms Wadley said.

Malcolm was fined $100 for the unrestrained driving, $500 for driving over the limit and disqualified from driving for two months.

A conviction was not recorded.