A man who was taking his car out for a test drive after getting it into running condition has faced court after being stopped by police.
Riley O’Brien, 21, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to charges of being a learner driver without an appropriate supervisor, failing to produce a driver’s licence on request, failing to display front and rear L-plates, using an unregistered vehicle, and driving a vehicle without number plates.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Brent O’Grady told the court police intercepted O’Brien driving a Toyota Corona on March 16 after spotting it being driven without any registration plates.
They discovered that O’Brien was a learner driver who did not have any L-plates on the car and his front-seat passenger was a P-plater.
The car was impounded at a cost of $1200.
The court was also told O’Brien did not have any prior court appearances.
O’Brien’s solicitor John McNamara told the court his client had bought the old car — a 1980s model — and had just got it into working condition himself.
“He took it for a test drive,” Mr McNamara said.
“He knows it was a ridiculous decision.”
O’Brien was fined $1500, but no conviction was recorded.