By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DRINK-driving learner driver was fined $1200 and lost his licence for eight months after losing control of a vehicle through an Endeavour Hills roundabout and crashing into a light pole two years ago.
Ehsanullah Popal, now 22 and a father of two, recorded a .045 blood-alcohol reading three hours after the crash on 15 July 2013.
He was charged with exceeding .00 as well as dangerous driving, failing to display L-plates and driving without an experienced driver beside him.
On Monday, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told Popal’s then-fiancee and two others had been drinking beer and bourbon before they went for a drive about 10pm.
On a roundabout in John Cook Drive, the vehicle lost traction and Popal over-corrected, fish-tailed and crashed into the light.
The crash extensively damaged the vehicle and destroyed the streetlight, police prosecutor Senior Constable Tracey Arnold told the court.
Popal told police he had been travelling about 65-70 km/h in the 50 km/h zone.
The court was told Popal pleaded guilty to other offences including driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without an experienced driver as his front passenger, failing to display L-plates and failing to produce a driver’s licence in Dandenong and Hallam in 2013 and 2015.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to answer bail.
Popal told the court he had not replaced his written-off car since the crash. During his most recent offence, he was driving his brother’s vehicle.
“I’m not drinking anymore,” he told the court. “I won’t drive until I get my proper licence.”
Magistrate Greg Connellan cancelled Popal’s licence for more than the mandatory six months for dangerous driving, taking into account the crash and involvement of alcohol.
He said the fine was lenient, given it was Popal’s first traffic matter in court.
