A Haddon driver who was found slumped over her steering wheel on the side of the road was more than three times over the blood alcohol concentration limit.
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A passer-by found Tracey Dawson asleep in her car on Greenhalghs Road, Delacombe, on March 3 but when she was told the police were on their way, she drove off.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ben Jones told the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday the passer-by followed Dawson's vehicle, which did not have headlights on and was swerving across the roads.
He said the 51-year-old drove along Wiltshire Lane, with the passer-by following her for 10 minutes, before police intercepted her on Bells Road.
A breath test revealed Dawson had a BAC level of 0.183. She admitted to police she had consumed five drinks of beer.
Dawson's lawyer said his client had spontaneously gone for drinks after work but had gotten into an argument with a stranger and decided to leave.
He said Dawson knew it was a foolish decision and it was out-of-character as she had never got behind the wheel while drunk before.
Magistrate Steven Raleigh convicted and fined Dawson $900 and disqualified her from driving for two years from March 2.
She pleaded guilty to one count of drink-driving.
In a separate case at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, Christopher Langtry pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Langtry was stopped at a breath testing site on Gillies Street, Lake Wendouree, on June 8. He underwent a preliminary breath test before he was accompanied to a testing vehicle.
Senior Constable Ben Jones said Langtry recorded a BAC level of 0.153.
He said Langtry's car was impounded, costing him $1200, and his driver's licence was immediately suspended.
Langtry told police his reason for drink-driving was he "trying to look for someone". He was convicted and fined $500 and disqualified from driving for 15 months from June 8.
In another drink-driving case, Matthew Griffiths was not allowed to exceed zero when he recorded a BAC level of 0.024 at Mt Prospect on March 31.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving, speeding and exceeding zero and was fined $900 and disqualified from driving for 12 months from March 31.
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