More than $9000 in fines and 71 months of road disqualifications served in first traffic court of 2024

The first Albany Traffic Court of 2024 has resulted in more than $9000 in fines and 71 months in driving disqualifications served for offences from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol to speeding. Alan Richard Spence, a non-appearance on Tuesday, submitted an endorsed plea of guilty to exceeding 0.8g of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Police prosecutor Sgt Peter Yuswak said the 64-year-old rolled a Holden GTS sedan at 8.31pm on October 8 while trying to turn. He was taken to Albany Health Campus and breath-tested, returning a positive reading of 0.143 alcohol per 100ml of blood. He fractured his back in the incident and continues to wear a back brace. Spence declined to participate in a recorded interview with police and did not provide an explanation. In a letter to the court, he apologised, saying he had “no excuse” and that “it has been an expensive exercise”. Spence was fined $1200 and served a nine-month disqualification. Aimee Angele Iturbide, a non-appearance, submitted an endorsed plea of guilty to exceeding 0.08g of alcohol per 100ml of blood and no authority to drive. Sgt Yuswak told the court how the 32-year-old returned a reading of 0.117 of alcohol per 100ml of blood when pulled over for a random breath test on Le Grande Avenue in Orana. Iturbide was also driving a manual transmission car on an automatic licence. “Has she driven manuals before on the incorrect licence or did she have no idea what she was doing?” Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said. Iturbide was fined $100 for driving on an incorrect licence, and fined $1800 and disqualified from driving for 14 months. Renee Ellen Robinson pleaded guilty to reckless driving, her second offence in 12 days. Sgt Yuswak told the court how on December 20, the 38-year-old tested positive for methamphetamine after she was pulled over by police on Humphrey Street in Collingwood Park at 11pm. Robinson stated that she wasn’t driving anymore. “Well at this point, you shouldn’t be because you’re disqualified,” Ms O’Donnell said. Robinson was fined $1250 and disqualified from driving for eight months. Kenneth Allan Clifton pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit in a speed zone and driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Sgt Yuswak said a handheld speed camera captured the 61-year-old travelling at 72km/h in a 60km/h zone on Albany Highway on December 9 at 7.31pm, his second offence since 2008. He was pulled over and a breath-tested returning a positive reading of 0.175 grams of alcohol per 100ml. Police served him with a roadside disqualification. Clifton said he had “poor judgement” on the day and had “really messed up”. Clifton was fined $200 for speeding and $3150 and disqualified from driving for 30 months for driving under the influence. Leah Chantal Thompson pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Sgt Yuswak told the court how the 44-year-old returned a positive test of 0.167 of alcohol per 100ml of blood after she was pulled over for a random breath test on December 11 in Kendenup. She was served a roadside disqualification. Sgt Yuswak noted Thompson had a prior 0.05 conviction on her record. “My friends didn’t want me to drive, but I don’t listen to anyone,” Thompson said in a letter to the court. Thompson was fined $1700 fine and served a 10-month disqualification.