A man who was caught doing burnouts so aggressively they destroyed his rear tyres has kept his licence, but must undertake a safe driving program.
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The 22-year-old was seen performing burnouts in his Ford Falcon at the intersection of Monsants Road and Edwards Road in Maiden Gully shortly after midnight on June 20 this year, the Bendigo Magistrates' Court heard.
A witness saw the vehicle's wheels spinning while the car remained stationary, producing lots of noise and smoke.
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The man then let the brakes go and did a burnout, crossing onto the wrong side of the road.
The court heard the man was in a group with about six other vehicles.
A short time later the man was pulled over by police, the rear tyres on his vehicle destroyed.
The court heard they had delaminated during the burnouts and rubber and wire casing was left on the road.
An axle had also snapped.
The man was interviewed at the scene and told police he performed the burnouts because he was "just having a bit of fun".
He said his tyres had "popped" from "skidding".
The man pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Monday to careless driving.
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Defence lawyer Nicholas Rolfe said the 22-year-old had never even received a traffic infringement.
Mr Rolfe said his client lived in a rural area about an hour from Bendigo and was a full-time carer for his father.
The night in question was an expensive one for the man, he said, as he had had to pay to get his car out of impoundment, pay for new tyres, and pay to repair the damage to his car.
Magistrate Sharon McRae said she was "pretty unimpressed" with the man's behaviour, telling him he put his life and that of others at risk.
"On the roads, the line between life and death is very small," Ms McRae said, adding that men his age were over-represented in fatal crash statistics.
However, she said his actions did seem out of character and she believed he had learnt a lesson.
Ms McRae did not interfere with the man's licence, but ordered him to complete a safe driving program.
He was also fined $500 without conviction.
"If you act like an idiot on the roads, you won't have your licence for very long," Ms McRae said.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
