A man with a "shocking" driving history has been fined hundreds of dollars for not having an interlock device in his car, which police have again impounded.
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Grant Anthony Curnow, 48, was pulled over in Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat where it was found he had an interlock condition attached to his licence, but his car was not fitted with such a device.
Curnow pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court this month to breaching an interlock condition.
Magistrate Patrick Southey noted Curnow had convictions for drink-driving in both 1997 and 1998, was later caught driving disqualified and was found drink-driving again in 2004
He also breached the interlock condition in 2013, was detected travelling at a high speed in 2014, and was caught drug-driving that same year.
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"[It's a] terrible, terrible driving history," Mr Southey said, adding that Curnow had no regard for the law or other road users.
The court heard Curnow had subsequently also been disqualified and was fined $1250 in December following a 2018 crash for which he was charged with careless driving, using an unroadworthy vehicle, and failing a drug test within three hours of driving.
Defence lawyer Madeleine Mein said Curnow had been clean from drugs since the crash and was on the disability support pension while he awaited a knee replacement.
Mr Southey took into account Curnow's limited income and his "shocking" history of driving in convicting and fining him $700, plus costs.
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Police applied to further impound Curnow's car, which had already been impounded when he was found without the interlock device.
Mr Southey asked what the point was given Curnow's driving ban, to which police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Snell replied: "His history shows he drives anyway".
The application was opposed and Curnow's father gave evidence that he used the car to get around, as his car - while usable for short distances - needed significant repairs.
He said he would also need it to take Curnow to appointments and the like after his knee operation.
But Mr Southey found these reasons did not meet the required threshold of exceptional hardship, and granted the police application.
Curnow's vehicle will be impounded for one month.
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