A Grenfell man was convicted in his absence in Young Local Court last week for the charge of driving a motor vehicle with an illicit drug being present in his blood and saliva.
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Raymond Allan Percival, 37 of O’Brien Street in Grenfell did not appear before Magistrate Michael O’Brien who proceeded with a conviction and sentence ex parte.
Magistrate O’Brien, after convicting Percival, fined him $800 and disqualified him from driving for six months.
It was Percival’s second or more offence facing the charge.
According to the police facts submitted to the court by the prosecution, at about 1.50pm on Friday January 12 a Ford Falcon Station Wagon driven by Percival was stopped by Police on Currawong Street in Young for the purpose of a Random Breath and Drug Test.
Percival’s breath test result was negative and he was then subjected to an oral fluid test which returned a positive detection for cannabis and methamphetamines.
Percival was arrested for the purpose of a secondary test and taken to Young Police Station where he was questioned and re-tested.
A second positive result for cannabis and methamphetamines was returned with the remainder of the sample sent off to Sydney for further testing.
The subsequent test sample sent to Sydney also returned a positive result to the two prohibited drugs.
In relation to the taking of drugs during police questioning Percival said, ‘I used some the other day’.
For a first offence of drive vehicle with illicit drug present in blood, the maximum penalty is a fine of $1100 for a first offence. For a second or subsequent offence, the maximum penalty is a $2200 fine.
