A LEARNER driver has been fined after he was caught speeding and swerving across lanes of traffic in Bendigo.
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Jason Baxter, 36, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court last week where he pleaded guilty to 15 charges including careless driving.
The court heard on September 7 last year, Baxter was driving a black Holden sedan in Kangaroo Flat without any registration plates on his car.
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Police stopped Baxter and when asked for identification, he produced a learner's permit. The only passenger in the car was his young son.
Checks of the car showed the vehicle's registration had expired in 2019. There were also issues with the car's headlights.
Baxter told police he was just driving to the supermarket and knew he was in the wrong.
The court heard then on the morning of October 26, Baxter was caught speeding along Holmes Road in North Bendigo.
Police saw Baxter's red Mitsubishi overtaking cars as he veered over the median line and into a right turning lane.
Baxter also continued through an intersection without stopping. He eventually stopped outside a Havilah Road address where police spoke to him.
The court heard the car had number plates that were registered to a vehicle that had been stolen in Long Gully a month earlier.
The vehicle's correct registration plates had expired in 2016.
The officers noticed that Baxter had attempted to repair extensive damage to the vehicle.
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There were no L plates displayed on the car, despite Baxter only holding a learner's permit. There were also no passengers in the vehicle.
Baxter told police he had been speeding because he ran out of petrol and was trying to get home.
The court heard police intercepted Baxter again the next day while he was driving a white Hyundai in North Bendigo.
There were no L plates displayed on his car and the only passenger in the vehicle had a probationary driver's licence.
The court heard the car's registration plates belonged to a stolen vehicle. The correct registration expired in 2018.
Baxter admitted to holding a learner's permit but made no other comments to police.
The defence lawyer told the court Baxter wanted to deal with these driving matters because he was already serving a jail term for other offences.
Magistrate Megan Aumair said Baxter's actions were serious in the context of his criminal history.
Ms Aumair said Baxter needed to be a role model for his son.
Baxter was convicted and fined $2000. Ms Aumair said she would not interfere with his driver's licence.
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