A DRIVER pulled over two days after getting his L-plates was found to be above the alcohol limit for someone with his licence, according to police.
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As he appeared in Bathurst Local Court, he was told he had an "appalling" driving record.
He told the magistrate that he had not been drinking on the day that he was pulled over in West Bathurst, but had been drinking the night before.
Jefferson Douglas Vukotic, 29, of Lew Avenue, Eglinton, appeared in person in the court on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 to plead guilty to being a special category driver driving with a special range PCA (first offence).
Police documents before the court said police were performing stationary testing on Bradwardine Road at about 10am on Saturday, April 5, 2025 when Vukotic, in a Mazda sedan, was stopped for random testing.
He produced a paper copy of a NSW learner licence, was breath-tested and returned a positive result.
Vukotic told police that he had used mouth wash before driving and had not drunk any alcohol, according to the police documents.
Police said he had a full licence holder next to him and L-plates displayed.
Vukotic was arrested and taken to Bathurst Police Station.
Police said they could not smell any intoxicating liquor and Vukotic appeared unaffected by alcohol.
He returned a reading of 0.034.
In court
Vukotic, who represented himself in court, was asked by Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith whether there was anything he would like to say.
"No," he said.
"You are on your L-plates?" Ms Slack-Smith asked.
"Yes," Vukotic said.
"And you had been drinking?" Ms Slack-Smith asked.
"Night before, I had. Not on that day," Vukotic said.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Belinda Cooper told the court that Vukotic's driving history did not assist him, as well as pointing out his offence occurred only two days after he received his learner licence.
Magistrate's decision
After noting Vukotic had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, Ms Slack-Smith told him that "you will lose your licence today".
"Your driving record does not assist you. You have an appalling driving record," Ms Slack-Smith said.
"You have previously been declared a habitual offender."
Ms Slack-Smith convicted Vukotic, fined him $600 and disqualified him from driving for four months, starting April 22, 2025.
