Scottsdale Magistrates Court of Petty Sessions - September 2020

September 8, 2020

Cassandra Robyn Elaine Elizabeth Barry, 34, and Drew Rodney Hayes, 36, of Winnaleah pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply with direction from the Director of Public Health.
At 5.37pm April 12, police received information from the Coronavirus hotline that there was a gathering occurring in breach of the public health direction at 45 Main Street, Winnaleah.
When police attended at 7pm and were told by the resident of the house there was no party, stating it was only people residing at address and two visitors in attendance.
Ms Barry said she and her partner Mr Hayes had not been invited but went to give their friend’s daughter a birthday present and Easter eggs.
None of the attendees were showing any symptoms and strong advice was provided to them in regards to social distancing and directions from Director of Public Health.
At the time all Tasmanians were subject to recommendation to remain in or on their primary residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic and prohibited the organisation of gatherings of three or more people.
Ms Barry said she was aware a direction was in place but was unsure of specifics.
She said she regrets the decision and has learned her lesson.
Ms Barry and Mr Hayes were not convicted but both received a fine of $200 with additional court costs of $85.86 each.
Four others appeared in relation to the matter but pleaded not guilty, with the remaining proceedings adjourned for hearing on February 18.
Lisa Alison Curtis of Tomahawk pleaded guilty to one count of exceeding the speed limit.
On November 22, 2019 Ms Curtis was driving from Scottsdale to Launceston on Golconda Road when she exceeded the 100km/h speed limit, travelling at 140km/h.
The 29-year-old made the admission about the driving offence to police when undergoing an interview for a separate incident for which she was not at fault.
Due to the unusual circumstances, the Magistrate said a lesser fine and suspension was appropriate.
Ms Curtis received a one month driving disqualification and $100 fine with costs of $85.86.
Aaron John Dickenson pleaded guilty to one count of driving while his licence was suspended and one count of speeding.
On 2.50pm December 10, 2019 police were travelling east of Tasman Highway at Tonganah when they saw a vehicle travelling west exceeding the 100km/h speed limit, at what the radar detected as 117km/h.
Checks of his licence couldn’t be performed on the roadside and police later found that he was subject to a suspended licence due to unpaid fines.
The 36-year-old said he was unaware of the suspension at the time but paid the fines as soon as he was aware.
He was fined $372 and lost two demerit points, with additional costs of $85.86.
Eden Anderson Ooms-Simpson pleaded guilty to one count of driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit and for driving with someone in the tray of his ute.
On 10.45pm on Friday June 5, 2020 the P2 driver was driving on Main Street, Bridport when intercepted by police for a random breath test.
As a result of a positive test, he was taken to the Scottsdale station for breath analysis which returned a reading of 0.087.
Mr Ooms-Simpson was fined $344 and disqualified from driving for three months, backdated to June 5, with court costs of $108.04.
Richard Leigh Easterbrook pleaded guilty to one count of lighting a fire during the permit period, without a permit.
The incident occurred on November 17, 2019 on his partner’s property at Bridport.
At 11am the defendant set fire to a pile of dry bracken fern in an attempt to reduce the fuel load.
Mr Easterbrook made attempts to rake and control the fire but when it became evident it was out of control he called TFS for assistance.
When TFS volunteers attended there was an approximate 25km/h westerly wind which aided in it spreading quickly once lit.
The 57-year-old said when he lit the fire, there was no wind but a gust came soon after.
The defendant said he did not obtain or seek to obtain a permit because he believed he did not need one for a fire that size.
There was no damage to other properties from the fire which consumed approximately 20 metres in diameter of ground, although there was concern that it could have impacted other properties due to the wind.
No conviction was recorded and the proceedings were adjourned for 12 months with an undertaking of good behaviour.
There were additional costs of $85.86 payable.