IT was a recipe for a disaster
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Four drunk teenagers in a car, including the inexperienced L-plate driver behind the wheel, driving through the snow in Orange.
The teenager who was driving faced Orange Local Court on Thursday on a drink driving charge and being a learner not accompanied by a driver.
At the time of the offence in August, the teenager was under age, so he cannot be named.
The court heard that in a misguided gesture the teenager decided to drive and his explanation was “I was the soberest of my group of friends.”
His solicitor Rebecca McIlveen said when the teenager saw he was close to a parked vehicle he hit the brake and pulled on the handbrake at the same time, causing the vehicle to slide and crash into the parked car causing considerable damage.
She told the court due to the teenager’s limited finances his single mother had been left to largely pick up the bill from the damage.
Ms McIlveen said the teenager has made plans for his future.
“He’s in Year 11 and he hopes to be a diesel mechanic,” she said.
“This was a real lapse in judgement,” she said.
Magistrate Terry Lucas lectured the teenager.
“You are lucky you are not standing here facing a charge after someone was dead or seriously injured,” he said.
“It could have ruined your life and I could send you to jail,” Mr Lucas said.
“But I will keep my options open.”
He said he took into account the fact the teenager had completed a driver education program.
“But if you were an adult I would consider sending you to jail,” he said.
The teenager was fined $700 and disqualified from seeking a learner’s permit for four months.