Police said Karen Rautenberg, 49, of Jeremadra, was holding an alcoholic vodka drink in her hand when officers spoke to her on April 1.

She told police she had driven along Beach Road to the fast-food outlet to get “a Macca’s and a coffee”.

Ms Rautenberg pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving with a blood/alcohol reading of 0.162.

Magistrate David Degnan was told police received a phone call from someone worried about a possible drunk driver.

When spoken to by police, Ms Rautenberg said she had been drinking Vodka Cruisers earlier that night.

Defence lawyer Geoffrey Knox said his client had been drinking at a hotel but, after a sleep, went out to get coffee.

He said this was a decision she now regretted because the loss of licence would have a significant impact on Ms Rautenberg’s life for some years.

He said she was a shift worker who was highly thought of but would now have to move closer to her workplace.

Mr Knox said his client’s traffic record did not assist her in the matter although it was 10 years since her last offence.

Mr Degnan said the facts were quite surprising and a member of the public must have become concerned to then contact police. He said the offence was aggravated because she had a passenger in the car.

Mr Degnan fined Ms Rautenberg $1600 and disqualified her from driving for two years from April 1.