A 50-year-old truck driver, who was caught driving a B-double under the influence of methylamphetamine after he made a call to Triple Zero in a confused state saying that he was dizzy, has been jailed.
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John Patrick Danaher of Northey Road, Grahamvale, Victoria, appeared before Magistrate Philip Stewart in Parkes Local Court on Thursday, January 10, charged with drive while under the influence of drugs (methylamphetamine) at Forbes on May 7, 2018, and make false or misleading entry in work record at West Wyalong on April 28 and 30, May 2, 4, 5 and 7, 2018.
Facts tendered in court state police were asked via radio to keep a look out for a B-double with Victorian registration as the driver had contacted Triple Zero in a confused state from the Parkes Industrial Estate.
The operator reported the driver was talking about Victoria before terminating the call.
When the operator called back, the driver advised he was okay and just needed to get home to Victoria, stating he was feeling dizzy but would drive his truck to Forbes and have a sleep.
Forbes police travelled north along the Newell Highway to look for the truck.
Officers stopped at the RMS checking station at Daroobalgie and requested assistance from RMS inspectors to locate and stop the truck.
The truck was directed into the checking station at 9.10pm.
Police and RMS inspectors reported the driver appeared dazed, he was slow in his responses, sluggish in his movements, easily distracted, his skin was pale, his eyes glazed, bloodshot and pinpoint.
He was given a roadside breath test which returned a negative result.
Police then conducted an assessment of sobriety which he failed.
He was placed under arrest and taken to Forbes Hospital for blood and urine samples.
An inspection of Danaher's work diary revealed it was only new, having started on April 27, 2018.
Further Investigations revealed the driver and vehicle were sighted by Safe T Cams at various locations when it was recorded in the diary that he was resting.
Magistrate Stewart said the facts can only be described as disturbing.
“The Heavy Vehicle Laws and Regulations are in place for a very good reason, as are the need for honesty with the keeping of, and accuracy with the keeping of work diaries," Magistrate Stewart said.
“It is to stop people from fudging records and there are significant public safety issues in this matter given the length of journey alone.
“There are a significant number of people put at risk by a person driving a B-double a lengthy distance under the influence of a prohibited drug on public roads.
“The only appropriate sentence in my view is one of imprisonment.”
Magistrate Stewart fined Danaher $6000, disqualified him from driving for three years and sentenced him to nine months imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months to be eligible for release on July 9, 2019.
