A Dereel man who was caught driving an unregistered vehicle with fraudulent plates one week after his licence was suspended has faced court.
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David Emmett pleaded guilty to three charges including driving while disqualified and driving an unregistered vehicle at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ben Jones told the court police observed Emmett driving on Creswick Road in Ballarat Central on August 23 and checks showed his number plates were registered to a different car.
Emmett was intercepted at the Ballarat Railway Station car park where a licence check showed he was driving while disqualified.
"You have gone out of your way to break the law. That sort of thinking has got to stop or you will create trouble for yourself."
- Magistrate Letizia Torres
Representing himself, Emmett said being pulled over by police had given him a chance to think and change his lifestyle.
"Having thought a lot about it, I think I was panicking and out of sorts at that time, trying to hold onto a job that I had almost lost a couple of times where I had to work in Ballarat and Werribee," he said.
Magistrate Letizia Torres convicted and fined Emmett $600.
"I will not further interfere with your licence because I want you to be able to work," she said.
"You have gone out of your way to break the law. That sort of thinking has got to stop or you will create trouble for yourself."
