A TRUCK driver caught operating a b-double while under the influence of methamphetamine, with four bags of it in his cab, told police he took the drug to “avoid a rollover”, a court has heard.
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James Leonard Johnson appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to a series of drugs and traffic offences.
Leading Senior Constable Mark Herman said police saw Johnson driving a prime mover in b-double configuration along the Northern Highway at Avoca, on the morning of October 6 last year.
When police searched the cab they found a radar detector and four snap-lock bags containing methamphetamine.
Leading Senior Constable Herman said Johnson admitted to using the drug that morning in Geelong.
An inspection of Johnson’s logbooks showed he had repeatedly worked longer than the allowed 12 hours in a 24-hour period and had exceeded the b-double speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour.
Leading Senior Constable Herman said police also discovered Johnson was suspended from driving in Victoria.
When asked his reason for taking the methamphetamine Johnson told police it was, “So I don’t fall into the trap of near fatal rollovers”.
The court heard Johnson had been driving trucks since he was 19, but left the industry followinghis arrest.
Magistrate Richard Wright said he took this into account in his sentencing.
He fined Johnson $1500 with conviction and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.