Stuart Victor Kaye, 48, of Shepparton pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to careless driving, drink-driving and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Leading Senior Constable Braden Wright told the court Kaye collided with a parked vehicle when he attempted to park in a centre-of-the-road car park in Fryers St, Shepparton, on April 21, 2024.
A witness saw Kaye leave his Ford Ranger and called police, saying Kaye was “unsteady on his feet and slurring his words”, Leading Sen Constable Wright said.
When the witness confronted Kaye and said he was calling the police, Kaye told him “I don’t care what you do”, before leaving, Leading Sen Constable Wright said.
When Kaye returned to the car an hour and 15 minutes later, he was breathalysed by police and recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.140.
His Ford Ranger was also not registered, Leading Sen Constable Wright said.
Representing himself in court, Kaye said “there was no damage” to the Toyota HiLux that he hit, saying it “had a bullbar”.
He also said he left his car and went and “had two more beers” at a licensed venue before being breathalysed by police on his return to his vehicle.
Kaye also told the court his vehicle being unregistered was an “oversight because of the bank”, with money not coming out of his account to pay it.
Kaye told the court he was a contract truck driver, but had been out of work since his driver’s licence was suspended on the day.
Magistrate Olivia Trumble fined Kaye $300 and did not record a conviction.
His licence was also disqualified for 14 months from the day of the offence.
Ms Trumble said she had kept the fine to a minimum because the offence was “clearly out of character” for Kaye, and he had no prior criminal or traffic history.
“You paid a pretty hefty price. You haven’t been able to work,” she said.
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