A man from the Sutherland Shire caught with cannabis in Mudgee that he said he paid $200 for, was fined $220 in his absence when he failed to appear in court.
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Paul Dahdouh, aged 36, of Taren Road, Caringbah, was stopped by police at about 10.40pm on Friday, December 21, 2018, after they noticed that his vehicle was travelling above the 50km/h speed limit along the Sydney Road, Mudgee.
When speaking with the officers he denied ever being charged with a criminal offence - which was refuted by a check of his identity - and appeared to be nervous when questioned about the subject of drugs.
Dahdouh admitted he had cannabis in the passenger footwell of the vehicle and a container holding 22.4 grams of the drug was subsequently located.
In noting that he told police how much he paid for it, Magistrate David Day commented, "if he can afford $200 for drugs he can afford $220 for the fine".
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A 22-year-old man was disqualified for three months to be followed by a 12-month interlock period, after he was charged with drink driving several days after legislation was introduced to add an interlock period to mid-range offences.
Ali Raza of Waterloo Street, Schofields, was also fined $550.
He tested positive to a random breath test when he was stopped by police on the Sydney Road, Mudgee, at about 10.50pm on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Raza was taken to Mudgee Police Station where a breath analysis of 0.105 was recorded.
In early December the alcohol interlock program - which already applied to high-range and repeat offenders – was expanded to also include all mid-range drink-drivers [a reading of 0.08 to less than 0.15].
The electronic, breath testing interlock device is fitted to the ignition of a vehicle and prevents it from starting if alcohol is detected.
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A Hargraves man charged with driving at over 40km/h over the speed limit through a road works site, was fined $880.
Frederick Kruse, aged 58, of Doughertys Junction Road, Hargraves, elected to have his charge of 'Class A motor vehicle exceed speed by more than 30km/h - Radar' dealt with in court but failed to appear.
At 3.30pm on Thursday, October 4, 2018, Kruse was detected driving at 102km/h through a 60km/h zone on the Castlereagh Highway at Ilford.
Upon being stopped he told police, "sorry, normally it's 100".
Magistrate Day said that the fine amount "is appropriate for what could only be a work zone".