Toni Lee Thomson, 39, of Carrington Avenue, was breath tested by police who watched her and her passenger get out of a Holden Colorado four-wheel-drive and attempt to walk past the breath testing site on the other side of the road on October 6.

According to police, when Thomson was intercepted she told the officers that she believed her driver’s licence was suspended and she drank a small amount of alcohol before getting behind the wheel and driving towards Orange.

She said she was driving because her passenger was drunk.

The police waited 10 minutes before breath testing her and after she returned a positive result she was taken to Orange Police Station where she recorded a reading of 0.01.

Thomson did not appear in court where magistrate David Day disqualified her from driving for three months and fined fined $330 for novice-range drink driving. She was also fined $1100 and her driver’s licence was disqualified for 12 months for driving while disqualified. 

“She shouldn’t be drinking at all, she’s in the novice range,” Mr Day said.

In another matter, a woman who was caught driving after her driver’s licence was refused said she took over the wheel after the person who had been driving fell ill.

Sally Moad, 28, of Baker Street, Spring Hill, was stopped by police on Huntley Road at 4.25am on September 1.

She appeared in Orange Local Court on Monday where her driver’s licence was disqualified for six months, she was given a 12-month community corrections order and 50 hours of community service.