JOLENE OGLE
Police Prosecutor Shane Raison has urged the local courts to send a message to drink drivers who continue to clog the courts every week.
“Last month, within the immediate Noosa area, there were three very serious traffic accidents; all involved alcohol,” Sgt Raison said. The court heard two of the people involved in the accidents are still in hospital with one remaining in an induced coma. Something needs to be done and the court can assist by ordering drink-driving offenders to attend the Driver Awareness program prior to passing sentence, Sgt Raison said. The Driver Awareness program is a one-day course where offenders are addressed by car crash victims, sole survivors of drink driving accidents as well as police officers who attend the devastating fatal accidents on local roads. “We need to be seen to be proactive. We need to be seen to do something about the behaviour at this end of the coast,” he said. Sgt Raison’s comments come as nine locals faced Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday, five of whom were caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.150 per cent. The highest reading before court this week was a 61-year-old man who blew 0.236 per cent while behind the wheel of his Suzuki Swift. The man, who previously pleaded guilty to driving with a BAC of 0.171 per cent in 2009, was fined $1,200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. A conviction was recorded. A 29-year-old beautician student also appeared and pleaded guilty to driving with a BAC of 0.129 per cent. The woman was fined $800 and disqualified from driving for six months. A conviction was recorded.
