A Ballarat man repeatedly drove backwards and forwards in his driveway because he thought drink-driving laws didn’t apply to private property, a court has heard.
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George McConnell, 37, pleaded guilty to exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol at the Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday.
The court heard McConnell began drinking at 8pm on January 6 this year, when he consumed eight stubbies of VB.
A neighbour spotted McConnell driving his ute up and down his driveway at 1am the next day and called police.
Police found the 37-year-old standing in his driveway a short time later, where he admitted driving the ute.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Vikky Chaffey said attending police members noticed McConnell smelt of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
He was taken to the Ballarat Police Station where he recorded a blood alcohol limit of 0.105.
Defence lawyer David Tamanika said his client believed that he wasn’t breaking any laws because he wasn’t driving on the road.
“He was very surprised that you are not allowed to drink-drive on private property,” he said.
The court also heard McConnell was unlicensed and his car was unregistered, but these charges were not laid because he never ventured out into the street.
Magistrate Kay Robertson fined McConnell $250 with conviction.
Also yesterday, a Daylesford woman was fined after being caught driving at more than three times over the blood alcohol limit.
Jan Geddes was caught driving east on the Midland Highway on March 31 this year with a blood alcohol reading of 0.179.
The court heard Geddes was facing significant personal issues at the time of the offence.
Magistrate Robertson noted Geddes “very good driving record” and acknowledged she was dealing with several issues at the time.
Taking into account all of the circumstances, she fined Geddes $200.
jordan.oliver@fairfaxmedia.com.au
