Source : Perth Now news
A teenager is expected to lose a hefty portion of pocket money and face a potential dressing-down from a local magistrate after he was allegedly caught driving “recklessly” while intoxicated with seven mates crammed into his ute after a night on the town.
The Queensland teen from Pacific Pines was spotted driving a blue dual-cab ute in a reckless manner by two QPS Highway Patrol officers at around 1.45am on Wednesday near Discovery Drive in Helensvale.
As the officers began following the vehicle, one of them begins a video recording, and her colleague in the driver’s seat can be heard saying “woah, they’re drifting” as the ute makes a sharp left turn.
After flashing their lights and pulling the ute over, one of the officers says there “might be a few people in the back” of the ute.
As she approaches the driver’s side door, the female officer calls the situation “ridiculous” and asks the 17-year-old driver if he has consumed any alcohol.
“I had some a couple of hours ago … we went to Surfers and back around 11.40. We came back here and went to Maccas, we’re on our way home now.” he says.
When asked to explain why three of his mates are crammed into the tray of the ute, the teen explains the group of eight didn’t wish to pay for an Uber.
Further footage shows a group of three teens sitting sheepishly in the rear tray of the vehicle.
State Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Beth Fletcher said the alleged behaviour was “incredibly dangerous and could have easily ended in tragedy”.
“It is disappointing for police to see a young driver allegedly get behind the wheel after drinking, then carry seven passengers in a vehicle not designed to transport them,” she said.
“When you overload a vehicle and drive impaired, you’re removing every safety margin. If something goes wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic.”
The driver has been charged with three counts of driving a motor vehicle while a passenger wasn’t in a part of the vehicle designed for carrying passengers, one count of driving over the legal alcohol limit and three traffic infringement notices worth a combined total of $966.
He will appear in Southport Children’s Court on September 14.
