A MAN who pulled off the side of the road when he realised he was in no shape to drive, was sentenced in Orange Local Court on Monday for mid-range drink driving .
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Nathan Christmann, 20, of Ophir Road was fined $1100, disqualified from driving for nine months.
His solicitor Mick Madden said Christmann lived about 15 kilometres from Orange and found himself with no alternative way home due to unusual circumstances.
“It’s a set of circumstances that doesn’t normally happen, he had no credit on his phone and he had hardly any money,” Mr Madden said.
“He got part way home, thought I shouldn’t be doing this and pulled off the side of the road and police found him having a sleep, the engine was running because it was a cold night.”
Police had been alerted by a member of the public about 3am that the driver of a black Holden Colorado was possibly intoxicated.
At 3.10am on August 6 police found Christmann in the car, which was pulled to the side of Ophir Road, about 10 kilometres from Orange. The engine running and lights were on.
Police described Christmann as appearing to fall asleep while being questioned. They said he had drooping eyelids and slurred speech.
When asked why he was stopped on the side of the road police said he replied, “I drove here, I’m just on my way home from town”.
Christmann’s licence was immediately suspended so Magistrate Terry Lucas back-dated his licence disqualification to August 6 and reprimanded him, reminding him of the dangers of driving tired.
