Thursday Funny
23-year-old charged with driving under the influence on four-stroke 'esky'
If Christopher Petrie had been drunk and riding a horse he would not have been in so much trouble.
But riding into town on his home-made motorised esky was a different matter altogether.
Mr Petrie, 23, appeared before Noosa Heads magistrates' court north of Brisbane charged with riding the blue and white esky, fitted to a four-stroke motor, while under the influence of alcohol.
Charged: Chris Petrie was found to be drink driving when he took his motorised esky for a spin
Speedy: Petrie was found to be travelling at around 20kph on the esky when he was intercepted by the police
After a few drinks, Mr Petrie and a friend decided to take the unusual vehicle for a test drive, but they were soon intercepted by police.
Senior Sergeant Tony Melmeth told the court that the esky was travelling at 'approximately 20km per hour' when the pair were stopped and a random breath test was carried out. Mr Petrie was found to be a little over the limit and also admitted that he did not have a driving licence.
His solicitor told the court he did not realise a motorised esky was classified as a motor vehicle and had not intended to break the law.
Court appearance: Mr Petrie leaves after he was banned for a total of ten months and given a $500 fine
The court was then informed that 'the esky was holding three cans of Bundaberg rum and coke and some ice.'
The magistrate admitted that he had to consult the statute books to satisfy himself that the esky was indeed a vehicle.
'It's an unfortunate situation,' said the magistrate. 'If he'd been drunk on a horse he'd have been OK.
Wheelie odd: Petrie shows off his skills on the quad-style vehicle, but the driver said that 'it might be time to get rid of it'
'Nevertheless, you were in a motor vehicle - on a motor vehicle - and there must be a penalty.'
He imposed the minimum mandatory penalty of nine month's disqualification for driving under the influence, with an additional month for not having a licence.
Mr Petrie was also fined $500.
Later Mr Petrie told The Noosa Journal: 'My mate and I thought it would be a bit of fun, but I understand I've done the wrong thing.'
He added that the esky 'has got me into a bit of trouble. It might be time to get rid of it.'
hlokk
Posts: 4294
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Pretty sure you can still get
Pretty sure you can still get charged drink driving on a horse ;) (Though, aparently unlike a bike or a skateboard you wont loose your license)
I wonder when they'll make drink walking illegal :p
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
bit sad the police had to
bit sad the police had to jump all over this guy and he had to go to court but sign of the times
i suspect back in the day , this would have been laughed at/out of court , and a slap wrist given.
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
pudzz
Posts: 110
Date Joined: 23/06/10
hahaha
motorized scooter $150
esky $40
3 cans of bundys $12
Getting done for DD doing 30kph under the limit PRICELESS...!
HAHA cmon police.. why would you even bother.. what happen to the fun in life..!
cant believe he got done for that...
Timmo
Posts: 257
Date Joined: 01/03/10
how bout this one!!!!
As a means of transportation it left something to be desired in terms of comfort and street cred.
And when police asked the driver to pull over, the Barbie car, with its top speed of 4mph, was hopeless as a getaway vehicle.
Paul Hutton, 40, is regretting his impromptu roadtrip after he was arrested for drink-driving when he tried to take the battery- operated child's toy to a friend's house.
'Complete twit': Paul Hutton, pictured carrying the steering wheel and seat of the children's toy he drove while drunk, has been banned from driving for three years
Yesterday he admitted he had been a 'complete twit' after he was banned from driving and given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates.
The 6ft-tall father of four said that an adult needed to 'be quite a contortionist to get in' the 4ft by 2ft white and pink jeep, which is designed for fans of the popular girls' doll.
'I'm not unhappy with my punishment, just surprised,' he said. 'It needn't have gone to court. Possibly the police arrested me for something to tell the grandchildren.'
Mr Hutton, a divorcee from Jaywick, in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, is a former RAF aeronautical engineer who studies electric engineering at the Colchester Institute.
Toy vehicle: Mr Hutton was caught drunk at the wheel of this electric Barbie car
He took the Barbie car home after finding it abandoned ten years ago and has been tinkering with it ever since.
About eight months ago he started rebuilding it with his eldest son Simon, 17, who is doing a car mechanics course.
Modifications to the vehicle - which is aimed at three to five-year-olds and runs on a 12v battery - include adding larger wheels and changing its body colour from pink to white.
Mr Hutton had been drinking on March 28 when he decided to show the jeep off to a friend who lives just 500 yards away.
Police spotted him at 9pm with his knees tucked up under his chin ambling along Brooklands Road, which is named after the motor racing circuit.
He was arrested when he ignored warnings for him to stop and tried to make a very slow getaway. 'The police car came up alongside me and the officer said, "Are you all right there?"' he said. 'When I tried to talk I realised how drunk I was.
'A lot of burble came out. There was a dispute at first between the officers as to what the legalities of it were. Then they decided I was to be done for drink-driving.
'I was taken to Clacton police station and breathalysed. I was released at about 5.30am. I really didn't realise I should be doing it.
'I knew that it was daft but I didn't realise it was a criminal thing to do.'
Mr Hutton admitted drink-driving on Friday after magistrates in Colchester heard he had 89mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, more than twice the 35mg limit. He was given a three-year ban because he had received another drink-drive ban within the previous ten years. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs.
Chairman of the bench Neil Munson said: 'This is most unusual. I have never seen the like of it in 15 years on the bench.
'The vehicle is not even capable of doing the speed of a mobility scooter and could be outrun by a pedestrian.'
Oracle
Posts: 355
Date Joined: 22/11/10
Shit!
I'll buy the motorised esky - great idea! Ive only got a quick run/evade to get to Simon C's house. I'll hedge my bets
Bit harsh all up i think. $500 fine for this when so many people get nothing or at least nothing enough to stop them doing it again for much worse. I'd be happy if this was the "start" and all the real wankers got a "real fine".
Likc
Posts: 361
Date Joined: 09/08/09
This is mad, mad maaaad.
This is mad, mad maaaad. No-one is allowed to have any fun anymore. So next time, he will be better of doing some graffiti damage than do something constructive in the shed. Bet the fine will be less for that, in the unlikely event he gets caught. I find it sad where our “civilised” world is going.
uncle
Posts: 9507
Date Joined: 10/02/07
was his
second time for DD
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
knigit
Posts: 115
Date Joined: 19/12/10
I can't go fishing at
I can't go fishing at Woodman's Point because sooner or later my car will be broken in to, FACT, but the police and justice system have the time and resources for this sort of thing.....
pudzz
Posts: 110
Date Joined: 23/06/10
DONT EVEN
DONT EVEN START.. with the break ins at that place
did you see cockburn gazzette.. 12 new cameras in the coogee area but none at woodies
i tell ya im personally gonne rip them down and put em back up at woodies...
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Pollies don't fish at Woodies
Otherwise there'd be security cameras, guards, you name it.....sorry for the rant, it's the cynic coming out in me.
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!