TAIPANS' player Dwayne Vale's wallet is $600 lighter after he appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of being in charge of a vehicle while over the general alcohol limit.

While he did not drive the car, he was charged by police for having his keys in the ignition.

The court heard Vale went to sleep in his parked car on Lake St after earlier drinking with fellow Taipans team members.

Prosecutor Sgt Gordon Noble said police found the car with the keys were in the ignition, the air-conditioning running and the driver asleep.

Sgt Noble said Vale told them his last drink was two-and-a-half hours before and he had parked the car before starting drinking.

When breathalysed, Vale recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.116, more than twice the legal limit.

In court, Vale was remorseful yesterday.

"There is no excuse for what I did," he said.

"We had just been told we mightn’t have our jobs and had to take a 45 per cent pay cut so we decided to go out and drink."

Vale said he had no intention of driving home that night and planned to catch a cab after catching some sleep.

He tendered a list of character references to the court.

Magistrate John Hodgins said Vale’s reading was mid-range and took into account he wasn’t driving.

He imposed the fine and banned Vale from driving for four months.

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