A magistrate has told a probationary driver he already has a bad record on the roads.
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Brett Cowell pleaded guilty to speeding at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Giles Brown said police caught Cowell driving at 96km/h in a 80km/h zone on the Western Freeway in April 2020.
Checks revealed he was on P2 probationary licence and he told police he turned cruise control off as he came into the 80km/h zone.
Cowell received an infringement notice but said he elected to have it heard at court as he needed to prolong paying the fine because he had just bought a house.
The court heard Cowell had a prior conviction for driving while suspended.
Already you have a record that is not great for someone your age.
- Magistrate Letizia Torres
Representing himself, Cowell told the court he would lose his licence at the end of the month for another time he was caught speeding 100km/h in an 80km/h zone.
"You're not off to a great start with your Ps," Magistrate Letizia Torres said.
"How can the court be confident you are not going to keep speeding? You have to learn to manage changes in speed."
Cowell said he would lose his job as a diesel mechanic when he lost his licence.
Cowell was convicted and fined $300.
"Regardless of what I do today you are going to lose your licence so you are going to have to learn to manage that," Ms Torres said.
"I won't interfere with your licence today because you have this other matter where you are going to lose you licence in any case.
"Make sure you make arrangements with work and your personal life so you don't drive while disqualified.
"Already you have a record that is not great for someone your age."
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