Multiple motorists fined and disqualified in court

Several motorists faced Mansfield Magistrates Court last week, with licence suspensions and fines issued for offences including speeding, drink-driving, and disqualified driving. In one case, a man was fined $543 and lost his licence for three months after being clocked at 127 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the Midland Highway. The court heard the offence occurred on 26 December 2024, when the accused was intercepted while driving a white Toyota westbound between Paps Lane and Adams Lane at an estimated speed of 125 km/h. The man denied travelling at the clocked speed of 127 km/h, saying “no way I was doing that.” Despite this, the summary was accepted and the magistrate confirmed the mandatory licence suspension. The court heard the man had a prior speeding offence in March 2024. Defence for the accused submitted that he had accepted responsibility upon receiving the police brief and requested the matter be proven and dismissed or an adjourned undertaking granted. The court heard the man runs an engineering business, works six days per week, is recently divorced, drives his daughter to lessons, and had recently lost his father, contributing to his state of mind. The magistrate declined the dismissal/adjourned undertaking request, citing the relevant prior offence and the seriousness of the conduct. Prosecution opposed a dismissal, suggesting a fine was appropriate. The magistrate upheld the $543 fine without conviction and imposed the mandatory three-month suspension. In a separate case, a man was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for 16 months after being caught driving while disqualified and with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.080. The court heard police intercepted the accused on 24 May 2025 driving a green Holden at a noticeably low speed on Malcolm Street in Mansfield. A preliminary breath test detected alcohol, and further checks revealed his licence had been disqualified since March 2025. A subsequent breath test at the police station at 10:02 AM confirmed a BAC of 0.080. When questioned, the accused told police, “Not my plan, wanted to drop my wife and just done it.” The court heard the man had a relevant prior offence in March 2025, where he was disqualified for six months for recording a 0.042 BAC while driving on a learner permit. Defence for the accused said he was born in Fiji and lives in a share house locally, earning $1500 per week and sending $300 per week to support his family in Fiji. The court heard he pays $150 in weekly rent, has limited English skills but was able to follow proceedings, and accepted responsibility. Defence requested the minimum disqualification period and a fine due to financial hardship. Prosecution made no further submission. The magistrate said the accused should not have been driving, particularly with alcohol in his system. Taking into account his early guilty plea and financial situation, the magistrate imposed the minimum 16-month disqualification and a $500 fine without conviction. In a third matter, a probationary driver was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months after being caught travelling at 149 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. The court heard the offence occurred on 25 April 2025 when the accused was driving a white Holden sedan in the Merton area. Police radar recorded his speed at 149 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. The vehicle was intercepted and impounded. The accused was cooperative and expressed remorse. Defence said he had no explanation for the speeding, and the court heard he accepted responsibility, stating, “Is what it is. Won’t happen again. Lesson learned.” The man asked whether he could obtain a work-only licence, but the magistrate explained no such provision exists in Victoria. The court heard he had recently lost a third-year apprenticeship due to a shoulder injury, was not eligible for WorkCover due to being on probation, had not applied for Centrelink, and was earning income through casual labouring. Taking into account the early plea and financial circumstances, the magistrate imposed the mandatory 12-month suspension and fined the accused $500 without conviction.

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