Twenty-eight drink-drivers appeared in Orange Local Court on Thursday, accounting for a third of the cases before magistrate Bruce Williams.
HUGE numbers of Orange’s drink-drivers are taking up valuable court and police time.
Twenty-eight drink-drivers appeared in Orange Local Court on Thursday, accounting for a third of the cases before magistrate Bruce Williams.
The 27 men and one woman ranged in age from a teenager who had just gone on to red P-plates when they were caught drinking, to a 61-year-old driver who has had three previous convictions for drink-driving and was caught driving home from his local bowling club after consuming 10 schooners.
Time after time during the court sessions as drivers charged with PCA offences stood up to be sentenced, Mr Williams delivered scathing rebukes for their behaviour.
“The community is just crying out for me to do something about this,” he told one driver who faced court on high-range PCA charges.
He told several of the drivers despite their reputable standing in the community and the glowing references he would have no hesitation in sending them to jail if they come back before the courts charged with drink-driving.
Dressing down Christopher John Swain, 26, who had got into his car to drive away from home after drinking 10 schooners, Mr Williams said the man was a danger to the community.
“At .230 you were falling-down dead drunk and you got in your car,” he said.
The magistrate had no sympathy for Swain who has lost his carpentry job because he has no licence and has only been able to pick up a few hours of casual bar work since his licence was suspended on the spot in November. Mr Williams cancelled his licence for 16 months.
When Gregory John Travers, 61, faced the magistrate he was equally scathing in his rebuke after Travers was caught leaving Cumnock Bowling Club after downing seven schooners in four-and-a-half hours.
“You are a monumental danger to the community and you could have killed someone,” Mr Williams told the accused before disqualifying him from driving for 18 months and fining him $1000.
He told several of the drink-drivers he was repeating the same message over and over during the court sitting.
“You’ve been to court before and I would think there would be a red light at the back of your head going off to tell you not to drink and drive,” Mr Williams told another driver.
One of the drivers convicted and disqualified on Thursday, Phillip Sanford, who was pulled over by police after drinking 12 stubbies of beer in seven hours in November last year, will appeal his loss of licence.
Another driver with a mid-range charge on Thursday walked away without conviction after Mr Williams said the man’s 18-year unblemished driving record was a chance for him to draw on his good record.
Time after time during the court sessions as drivers charged with PCA offences stood up to be sentenced, Mr Williams delivered scathing rebukes for their behaviour.
“The community is just crying out for me to do something about this,” he told one driver who faced court on high-range PCA charges.
He told several of the drivers despite their reputable standing in the community and the glowing references he would have no hesitation in sending them to jail if they come back before the courts charged with drink-driving.
Dressing down Christopher John Swain, 26, who had got into his car to drive away from home after drinking 10 schooners, Mr Williams said the man was a danger to the community.
“At .230 you were falling-down dead drunk and you got in your car,” he said.
The magistrate had no sympathy for Swain who has lost his carpentry job because he has no licence and has only been able to pick up a few hours of casual bar work since his licence was suspended on the spot in November. Mr Williams cancelled his licence for 16 months.
When Gregory John Travers, 61, faced the magistrate he was equally scathing in his rebuke after Travers was caught leaving Cumnock Bowling Club after downing seven schooners in four-and-a-half hours.
“You are a monumental danger to the community and you could have killed someone,” Mr Williams told the accused before disqualifying him from driving for 18 months and fining him $1000.
He told several of the drink-drivers he was repeating the same message over and over during the court sitting.
“You’ve been to court before and I would think there would be a red light at the back of your head going off to tell you not to drink and drive,” Mr Williams told another driver.
One of the drivers convicted and disqualified on Thursday, Phillip Sanford, who was pulled over by police after drinking 12 stubbies of beer in seven hours in November last year, will appeal his loss of licence.
Another driver with a mid-range charge on Thursday walked away without conviction after Mr Williams took into account the man’s 18-year unblemished driving record.