A woman who was caught high-range drink driving on March 10, was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and had her licence disqualified in Orange Local Court last Monday.
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Rebecca Elizabeth Donaghy, 44, of Pippin Way, was disqualified from driving for six months, was given a mandatory 24-month interlock, and was placed on the good behaviour bond after police detected her with a 0.165 blood alcohol reading.
Her solicitor Olivia Rinaldi detailed the turbulent time Donaghy was going through at the time of the offence including financial problems, family medical issues and the break-up of a long-term relationship.
Ms Rinaldi said her client was making a 1.7 kilometre trip from her friends house to her own home when she was pulled over for a random breath test at 12.15am in Jonathon Road.
“For 23 years there was nothing on her record,” Ms Rinaldi said.
“She’s now been off the roads since that date of this offence, two months and 21 days.”
However, magistrate Bruce Williams said despite the information provided by Rinaldi, there were set penalties for drink driving.
“Anybody in the back of the court listening to this would probably have great sympathy for you,” he said.
“I don’t have any discretion unfortunately but if I did I would exercise that discretion, it’s been taken away from me.”
However, he acknowledged her “good character” and the difficulties she was facing.
“I can understand the drinking but that doesn’t excuse getting in a car and driving,” Mr Williams said.
“You were way above the low range, you were way above the mid range; a person at 0.165 is a real danger.”