A woman was so drunk at the wheel of a car in Joondalup, a concerned member of the public reached through the window and pulled the keys from the ignition.
The 47-year-old had been trying to reverse out of a Lake Joondalup Baptist College driveway while turning around to get to Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City to get some lunch.
Joondalup Magistrates Court heard earlier this month the woman, who pleaded guilty to having no authority to drive as an ‘alcohol offender’ and of driving under the influence on August 28 last year, had an alcohol reading of more than 0.3.
It was her third drink driving offence and she had been taken to Joondalup Health Campus after a medical episode at the scene.
Her lawyer said she was remorseful and had been doing well on an alcohol management program before the relapse.
Magistrate Angus Hockton said it had been a “poor decision” to drive her housemate’s car.
“A better decision would have been to get an Uber,” he said.
“It is a really serious example of driving under the influence.”
Mr Hockton fined her $400 with a nine-month licence disqualification for driving when not permitted.
He took into account her early guilty plea and references from rehabilitation, counselling and Alcoholics Anonymous representatives when fining her $4000 for driving with an “extremely high” level of alcohol.
He also permanently banned her from driving but reminded her she could apply to have the ban reversed after a period of good behaviour.