A MAN caught drink driving after calling into a pub to see a mate has been put off the road for eight months.
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Corey John Bennett, 21, of Loren Street in Eglinton, appeared before magistrate Michael Allen in Bathurst Local Court last week, charged with drink driving in the mid range. He was represented by Angus Edwards.
Police facts tendered to the court told how Bennett came to the attention of police after they found his ute, which was left with the engine running and hazard lights on, with a passenger still in the vehicle, blocking traffic outside The Eddy.
Police directed the passenger to go and get Bennett and he returned a few minutes later. As he left the hotel, police observed him to be unsteady on his feet and swaying.
He told police he’d driven in from Paddy’s Hotel in Kelso to see a mate.
A roadside breath test returned a positive result. Police arrested Bennett for the purpose of a breath analysis at Bathurst Police Station, which recorded a reading of 0.149.
Mr Edwards told the court his client had gone to the hotel after work and miscalculated what he was able to consume and still drive.
Mr Edwards said he was detected by police and immediately made admissions.
“He thought he was OK to drive, and now has the benefit of the Traffic Offenders Program, and accepts he shouldn’t have driven,” he said.
“There was another person in the car. He didn’t need to drive. He miscalculated the alcohol.”
Mr Edwards also told the court Bennett was an apprentice at Johnson’s Mechanical, working six days a week and had a strong need for a licence.
“You’re clearly a hard working man with good prospects, but your reading was a whisker off high range,” Mr Allen said.
“I don’t accept you didn’t know. You must have known.”
Mr Allen said drink driving happened every hour of every day, and as a result people were injured and killed.
He said he was aware of a 29-year-old lying in a hospital who could do nothing but breathe.
“His parents sit there with him crying because they know he won’t ever again enjoy a meal or a movie or relationship. He won’t get to experience all those things because he was maimed on our roads,” he said.
“And what makes it worse is when people drink drive.
“The message is totally simple. Have a drink, enjoy life but do not get behind the wheel of a car.”
Mr Allen said he’d taken into account what Mr Edwards had said on behalf of his client, and read the references tendered to the court.
Mr Allen convicted Bennett, fining him $700 and disqualifying him from driving for eight months, with Section 225 (3) of the Roads and Transport Act to apply.