Driver lands in court for refusing second drug test

Jul 10, 2022

Fined: A man caught driving without a licence twice and refusing a second drug test has faced Shepparton Magistrates’ Court. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

A man who was caught driving without a licence twice and refused to accompany police to the station for a drug test has been fined $750.

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Ryan James Hodgson, 34, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to driving while suspended, refusing to accompany police to the station for an oral fluid test, contravening a bail condition and using an unregistered trailer.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Deryn Boote told the court police stopped Hodgson on July 7 last year while he was driving a vehicle that was towing an unregistered homemade trailer in Wills St, Shepparton.

After a preliminary drug test showed a positive reading, Hodgson refused to go with police to the station for an evidentiary test, instead demanding to do it roadside, saying that he had to get home, Leading Sen Const Boote said.

The court heard that on a separate occasion police went to Pogues Rd, Bunbartha, at 11.30pm on September 23, 2021, to follow up on reports of suspected firewood theft.

Hodgson was in one of the cars intercepted.

He was driving on a suspended driver’s licence and his car was impounded at a cost of $1525.

He was also breaking a curfew bail condition that he not be out of his house after 10pm.

He told police at the time that his mate’s trailer had broken “and I needed to help him”.

Hodgson’s solicitor Laurence Waugh told the court the father of three only had a single driving prior.

As well as the $750 fine, he lost his licence for two years for refusing to accompany police for the drug test.