Unlicensed driver refused breath test

By Monique Preston

Aug 23, 2022

Fined: A Robinvale man has faced court on charges of unlicensed driving and failing to accompany police for a breath test. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

A man who refused to accompany police to the station for a breath test after he was caught driving without a licence has been fined $1600.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Nathan McGee, 33, of Robinvale, was charged with failing to accompany police for a breath test, driving unlicensed and failing to answer bail.

His matter was heard in his absence at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Luke Lund told the court a preliminary breath test showed the presence of alcohol when police breath-tested McGee in Newton St, Shepparton on June 11, 2018.

When asked by police to accompany them to the station for an evidentiary breath test, McGee refused.

Sen Constable Lund said at the time McGee was “clearly alcohol affected”.

The court heard he was also driving without a licence after he was disqualified from driving on his probationary driver’s licence in 2014.

McGee told police at the time he was aware that he was unlicensed, saying “it doesn’t matter”, Sen Constable Lund said.

Magistrate Tara Hartnett fined McGee $800 for refusing to accompany police for the breath test, $500 for being unlicensed and $300 for failing to answer bail.

She also cancelled his driver’s licence and disqualified him from driving for four years.