'You're a bloody idiot'
A BEVY of drink-drivers copped fines in Mossman Magistrates' Court yesterday and were banned from the road.
Forty per cent of matters listed for hearing in the tiny court, 75km north of Cairns, yesterday concerned drink-driving, police prosecutor Brad Hafner told The Cairns Post.
Of the 15 drink-drivers who faced court, many had hit the road during Port Douglas’ Reef and Rainforest Carnivale, Sgt Hafner said.
"It’s fast becoming a safety issue for people attending the event with that level of drink-driving," he said.
Yesterday’s alarming court line-up follows another horror day in December, when 12 drink-drivers faced the same court in one day, with readings as high as 0.203 per cent and some were serial offenders.
At the time, Sgt Hafner told The Cairns Post he blamed the community party culture.
Yesterday, the region’s top traffic cop Insp Bob Waters lashed out at drivers with little regard for the law and other road users.
"There is no place on our roads for the fools that drive like that," Insp Waters said.
Among those who lost their licences and were fined was Mossman man Terry John Langtree, 21, who recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.150 on May 31. Langtree downed 12 stubbies of beer and two rum and colas before police stopped him, the court heard.
Before placing Langtree on 15 months’ probation and disqualifying him from driving for 15 months, Magistrate Thomas Braes said: "You mustn’t have seen those ads with ‘bloody idiot’ stamped all over your forehead – or the carnage this causes on our roads."
Other drivers in court yesterday included Gary Russell Hayman, 46, who recorded 0.111, was fined $1200 and disqualified for 13 months. Bradley Harris, 30, of Mossman, recorded 0.102, was fined $700 and disqualified for six months.
Karen Ann Westcott, 49, of Mossman, recorded 0.089, was fined $500 and disqualified five months. Arnalisha Murray, 30, from Leichhardt in New South Wales, recorded 0.084, was fined $900 and disqualified for one month.
Another 10 drink drivers had their court appearances adjourned.
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No place for fools: Insp Bob Waters has issued a stern warning to motorists who flout the law.
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