08/09/2024
In Today's news
Drink-driving disability worker crossed into path of fully-marked cop car
A disability carer who returned a high-range drink-driving reading after driving clients home from an Orange supermarket has appeared in court.
Gurpreet Singh of East Orange had driven clients home from the Peisley Street IGA on the evening of August 3, 2024 before he attracted police attention about 6.43pm.
At that time, 30-year-old Singh was driving north on Peisley Street at 50km/h and veered over the dotted centre line and into the path of a fully-marked police vehicle.
Singh drove back to the correct side of the road for about 15 metres and police conducted a U-turn and activated lights and sirens while they followed him.
He entered the roundabout at Peisley and Dalton streets before finally stopping after 115 metres on Peisley Street.
Singh produced a heavy vehicle driver's licence and while speaking with him police could smell alcohol coming from him. His eyes appeared glazed and his speech was slurred and he appeared to have difficulty comprehending the instructions given by police.
He returned a positive breath test and was arrested for breath analysis and taken to Orange Police Station.
About 7.35pm he submitted to a breath analysis and returned a high-range reading of 0.197.
It was not stated whether there were any passengers in the car when Singh was stopped by the police or what time he had dropped off the clients.
Singh appeared in Orange Local Court for sentencing on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Solicitor Felicia Chui said her client had no criminal history before his arrest but did have a traffic history.
"When he first arrived in Australia he wasn't quite familiar with the road rules in relation to traffic lights," Ms Chui said.
"This is a matter where a conviction will most likely affect his Visa.
"He lost his job immediately after this occurred."
Ms Chui said Singh has since completed the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program, is "very remorseful" and unlikely to reoffend.
She said Singh is also financially disadvantaged and has been paying $1400 each fortnight for his mother's cancer treatment in India.
Magistrate David Day was not given the accused's drinking history but noted Singh told police he had been driving clients and "putting other people at risk".
"He didn't have a collision but it was manner of driving," Mr Day said of what led to his detection.
"He's pushing close to 0.2."
Singh appeared to be praying with his hands clasped in his lap while his sentencing hearing continued.
"It was his own [confession] that he had driven clients before hand. We don't know when," Mr Day said.
"It would appear he was drinking while in employment but that's not a matter [for me]."
He conceded Singh had since sought help for his drinking.
"He's also shamed his family," Mr Day said before convicting Singh.
Mr Day gave Singh a six-month community correction order, six-month driving disqualification and a 24-month interlock order. - Central Western Daily