Justin Lindrea, 21, pleaded guilty to causing the wheels of a vehicle to lose traction and producing excessive smoke while driving, in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court online on Friday.
Police lawyer Samantha Owen said Lindrea turned from Poplar Ave onto Doyles Rd just before 4 pm on May 17, and police coming the other way observed the vehicle to lose traction and do a burnout, producing large amounts of smoke.
Ms Owen said police intercepted Lindrea and observed his girlfriend, a 17-year-old male, and his one-year-old daughter in the car.
Lindrea, who represented himself in court, said he had committed the offences after driving to Melbourne and back that day.
“It was a big day and I wasn’t thinking,” he said.
“I’ve learned my lesson from that and I’m sure it’ll never happen again.”
Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum sentenced Lindrea to a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered him to pay $500 into the court fund, as well as participate in the Cool Heads road safety program.
She said driving was a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone else on the road and in the vehicle, and the presence of Lindrea’s daughter was an “aggravating” factor in the offence.
“This was an incredibly stupid thing to do and very dangerous,” Ms MacCallum said.
She noted that she believed Lindrea had learned his lesson and showed remorse for his actions.
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