By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DRINK-DRIVER who fled the scene of a Hallam crash and refused a breath test has rejected a court’s offer of an alcohol-treatment based corrections order.
Sarah Smith, 41, who pleaded guilty to both charges, told a Dandenong Magistrates’ Court judge on Monday that she was “pretty much on top” of her drinking.
“I don’t think it’s possible in my situation to make the appointments.
“I work casual but full-time hours, my partner works full-time and I have a child in school.”
The court had heard that Smith – with her nine-year-old son on board – had driven into the back of a stationary vehicle at the Hallam Road-Princes Highway traffic lights on Australia Day about 9.20pm.
The two vehicles drove into Hallam Hotel car park, then Smith drove away without exchanging contact details.
Soon after, police found Smith who gave a preliminary breath test indicating alcohol.
She then refused to go to Narre Warren police station for an evidentiary breath test and drove from the scene, telling police: “I have a child. I have a life. I don’t want to go.”
Smith had a similar prior conviction committed outside of the past 10 years, as well as a drinking-related offence in Bendigo last year.
She told the court that she would have drunk “half a dozen stubbies” on the day of the crash, since it was Australia Day.
The accused claimed she hadn’t had any drinking issues in 10 months but had “my struggles with alcohol throughout my life”.
“I’d get on top of it for a good few months then slip back into it.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the treatment-based order aimed to tackle what “sits behind your drinking”.
“I’m not seeking to punish you (with a work order), but to make sure you’re OK with your drinking.
“It’s to iron it out before it happens again.”
After rejecting the offer, Smith was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for two years.
