By Dominique Tassell
Seth James Mathie faced Warwick Magistrates Court on 24 October, charged with driving while over the middle limit and driving without a licence.
21-year-old Mathie registered a reading of 0.135 at a roadside test earlier this year. Mathie had been disqualified earlier this year, and while the period had ended he had not applied again as is required.
The 21-year-old currently works interstate, and his lawyer recommended he be given probation with the opportunity to report via phone.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess stated Mr Mathie has “quite a poor traffic history developing“ as he is a young man on his third traffic charge.
“It seems to me you’ve really learned nothing from your last court appearance,“ she said.
Magistrate Sturgess said Mr Mathie had barely finished his previous probation period and had registered a higher reading this time.
She said it meant very little to her that this was a morning-after reading, and that it should have been obvious to him that he was not fit to drive.
Magistrate Sturgess referenced a report submitted to the court where Mr Mathie’s psychologist said he referred to previous charges as unlucky, with the report stating he was minimising the charges.
She said if he wanted to keep his licence, or get it back, he had to do something to respect the road rules.
Mr Mathie has to “snap out of” his current state of mind regarding drinking culture, she said.
He was sentenced to probation for 12 months, with a special condition that he undertake counselling programs.
