A man who gave police a false name when he was pulled over while driving unlicensed has been fined $400.
Darren Manners, 55, of Echuca, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to unlicensed driving, drink driving and stating a false name to police.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Lund told the court police pulled Manners over at a breath-testing station in Echuca Rd, Mooroopna on April 18, 2021.
Manners told police a false name, before later confessing his real name.
The court heard he also did not have a driver’s licence after being disqualified from driving in 1994 and never going for his licence since.
He also recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.022, which was above the 0.00 alcohol he was allowed.
When questioned by police, manners said he knew he was unlicensed, but did not think he would be over the alcohol limit after drinking three cans of Jim Beam that day, Sen Constable Lund said.
He said he gave a false name from “desperation”, Sen Constable Lund said.
Representing himself in court, Manners said there were no buses running that day and a friend was supposed to pick him up but he had called to say he had COVID-19.
He also told the court he had never applied to get his licence back after being disqualified in 1994 because he had a back injury and could not sit in a car for long periods.
In fining Manners $400, magistrate Tara Hartnett said it was a much lower fine because of the explanation he had given.
She also noted that the drink driving amount was “incredibly low”; however, she said it was undermined because Manners “shouldn’t have been on the road” in the first place.
Manners was also disqualified from driving or applying for a licence for three months.