A JAMIESON man has been placed on a three-month good behaviour bond after facing court for driving on a suspended licence and using plates from a different vehicle.
The accused was stopped by police on Mansfield-Woods Point Road in July this year after an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system flagged his vehicle’s registration as expired.
Further checks revealed the owner’s licence had been suspended since April 2023.
The number plates on the Toyota utility also belonged to another vehicle, which had been involved in a crash.
A VIN check confirmed the vehicle should have had different registration.
The vehicle was impounded, costing the accused $2475.
When questioned by the magistrate about the impound fee, which she said seemed excessive, the accused explained he was informed the cost had increased as of July 1.
The accused admitted to the offence and confirmed that his licence was still suspended pending a medical review.
He stated he had seen a doctor and was awaiting a specialist appointment in the coming weeks, hoping to have his licence reinstated soon.
The accused, who works in customer service in Mansfield, explained that he had been relying on friends and family to get to work with the lack of public transport and it had been difficult to support his family during this time.
"You’ve compounded your wrongdoing,” said the presiding magistrate.
“You weren’t allowed to drive, but you did.”
The accused said that the plate change was necessary due to roadworthy work on the other vehicle and that he wasn’t attempting to deceive anyone.
"I know I did the wrong thing," the accused said.
The court heard that the accused had no prior offences and a character reference, which the magistrate described as “excellent.”
Acknowledging the accused’s efforts to resolve his medical issues and return to the road legally, the magistrate said she wouldn’t make an order against his licence.
“You’ll be able to get it back when your neurologist clears you,” she said.
“I understand it’s very hard to be taken off the road and you’re taking this seriously by being in court today.”
The accused was placed on a good behaviour bond for three months and will not need to return to court if no further offences are committed during this period.
