A P-plater caught driving a truck he was not licensed to operate has been convicted and fined $800.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sean Downing pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court to unlicensed driving and failing to display P plates after he was found driving a medium rigid truck in Strathfieldsaye last September.
Downing did not hold a licence to drive such a vehicle.
The court heard Downing told police at the time that there was no one else available to drive the truck and he did not put P plates on so as to avoid getting pulled over.
More court news: Roundabout crash driver sentenced for careless driving
Downing told the court that the truck belonged to the family business and the worker who drove the truck walked off the job that day, but it could not be left on the job site as tools were unsecured.
He said he now ran the business and losing his licence would have a "massive" impact.
Magistrate Sharon McRae noted Downing had a history of driving offences, including two previous counts of driving while disqualified and one count of driving while suspended.
"Why aren't you getting the message here?" she asked.
More court news: Stabber yelled, 'Die, die' in attack on lover's ex, court hears
Ms McRae told Downing that people driving when they were prohibited from doing so - either unlicensed, disqualified or suspended - were overrepresented in crash statistics.
Without the proper training for the vehicle, she said, Downing put the community at risk.
A police application to seize Downing's personal vehicle was adjourned.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.