A disqualified driver who was caught behind the wheel with a blood alcohol reading more than four times over the legal limit has told a court he has a problem with alcohol.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Keith Michael Nye, 43, of Mogo, pleaded guilty to charges of high-range drink driving and driving while unlicensed in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, June 7.
According to court documents, police were patrolling the Princes Highway, Mogo, on March 14 when they stopped Mr Nye for a random test in his Nissan Navara.
Police noted a strong scent of liquor from inside the vehicle once Mr Nye had wound down his window, and a roadside check revealed his license had been cancelled since February 9, 2021, after a five-year disqualification period that was handed down in Bega Court in 2016.
He also returned a positive result to a roadside breath test.
Mr Nye was arrested and taken to Batemans Bay police station for further testing, where he returned a blood alcohol reading of .215.
When asked when he had drunk alcohol, Mr Nye told police he had consumed eight cans of Victoria Bitter between 10.30am and 5.40pm that day, and had several beers the night before.
In court, Mr Nye's lawyer said the charges were on the verge between a community corrections order and a jail sentence.
"Mr Nye has told me alcohol is a problem for him, and he wants to do something about it," the lawyer said.
"He's trying to rebuild his place at Mogo (after the fires), and is waiting for support from the council.
"After he's received that support, he's happy to go to rehab, but he doesn't want to leave now and potentially miss out on the opportunity to fix up his house."
Magistrate Doug Dick stopped short of giving Mr Nye a jail sentence, but warned him it was a "major offence".
"You weren't licensed, so you shouldn't have been on the road, and it's a very high reading," he said.
"You'll be fined and placed on a community corrections order with conditions, and you'll be ordered to do some community service work."
Mr Nye was convicted of both charges and fined $2000. He was also placed on a two-year community corrections order with conditions that he attend any rehabilitation program ordered by Community Corrections.
He must also completed 200 hours of community service.
