An ACT man who drove dangerously in Perry Street, Batemans Bay, while drunk and tried to conceal his numberplates when police tracked him down has been fined $1500.
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A police officer watched from over the back fence of Batemans Bay Police Station as 22-year-old Raymond Peter Farrell drove recklessly around the roundabout at the Beach Rd and Perry St intersection in September.
A loud revving sound on Beach Rd alerted the officer, who saw the Mitsubishi Magna sedan brake heavily and skid around the roundabout at 8.40pm on September 21.
Police also saw the man, of Tenison Woods Circuit, Bonython, fail to give way at the roundabouts into the Village Centre carparks, and skid again when he turned into North Street.
Police facts stated Mr Farrell sped between 70km/h and 80km/h in the 40km/h zone and had a passenger in the car.
Police went in search of Mr Farrell and his ACT-registered Mitsubishi Magna sedan.
A report from the public led police to the Clyde River Caravan Park in Batehaven, where they found the same car parked outside a cabin.
Chairs had been stacked to hide the numberplates, police facts stated.
They arrested the driver - Mr Farrell – in the cabin who told police: “There was another Magna at the lights in the main street, and I just wanted to get in front of her”.
He was breath-tested at Batemans Bay Police Station just before 10pm and returned a reading of 0.125.
He was charged with driving recklessly, mid-range drink driving and operating a vehicle contrary to prescribed competitive activity, but this charge was withdrawn at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.
He pleaded guilty to the other charges.
The court heard Mr Farrell had been driving for three years and had lost his licence for 18 months during that period.
Defence laywer Stewart Gray said his client admitted he was an “idiot” and “doesn’t know why he did it”.
Magistrate David Degnan fined Mr Farrell $1500 plus court costs and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.