"Would you like to tell me why you keep driving with drugs in your system?" Magistrate Fiona Toose asked an unemployed Parkes woman appearing before her on three drug driving charges.
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Melissa Hanley (28) of Clarinda Street, Parkes, was in Parkes Local Court on Monday, January 20, charged with three counts of drive motor vehicle with illicit drug (methylamphetamine and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) present in oral fluid at Parkes on August 30, 2019, September 23, 2019, and September 30, 2019.
Representing herself, Hanley told Magistrate Toose she had no other answer for her question other than she "was stupid really".
According to police facts tendered in court Hanley "continues to show a total disregard for the judicial system, NSW Police Force and the RMS".
"It is clear no monetary penalty is having any effect on her," the facts read.
"Police are of the opinion a custodial sentence is needed for the accused to get away from those who are influencing her and to stop her from committing further offences.
"It is only a matter of time before she causes serious and permanent injury to herself and/or others."
Hanley pleaded guilty to all three charges.
Magistrate Toose told Hanley the police think she needs to go to jail.
"But that can't happen because these offences don't carry a jail sentence with them," she said.
"However if you had been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, that might have been a different story.
You have got to decide what's more important, your licence and being able to get around, or being filled with drugs so that you put yourself and other people at risk, simple as that.
- Magistrate Toose
"You have got to decide what's more important, your licence and being able to get around, or being filled with drugs so that you put yourself and other people at risk, simple as that.
"If you want to do drugs and wreck your life that's a matter for you, but you don't get the right to ruin somebody else's life on the road, do you understand that?"
Magistrate Toose asked Hanley if there was anything else she wanted to tell her about herself or about the matters she is charged with.
"I am booked in for the 22nd of February to do the traffic offenders course at PCYC," Hanley said.
"Well you can go but I am not putting these matters over because you just simply keep offending," Magistrate Toose responded.
"There's not much sincerity in that attitude given you've got three lots of these matters is there really? Are you working?"
"Not currently your hounour," Hanley said.
"Well as you are probably going to have to give up drugs you can probably save all the money you're otherwise spending on drugs and put it towards the fines in these matters," Magistrate Toose told her.
Hanley was fined $2400 and disqualified from driving until July 17, 2021.
