Australian fined for drunk driving a horse
Mount Isa horse rider nabbed for D-D
LENDL RYAN
A MAN who rode his horse 1km after a late-night bender has been convicted of drink-driving. About 10 police officers, in four cars, `reined in' Malcolm Willis and his trusty steed Jack.
Mr Willis, 22, was breathalysed and returned a blood-alcohol reading of .146.
The hydraulic-hose fitter pleaded guilty in Mount Isa Magistrates Court yesterday and was fined $900.
Outside court, Mr Willis, who is already serving a three-year disqualified driving sentence, said he thought he was doing the right thing by jumping on his horse.
"I was having a few drinks at my sister's place and when I got back home I decided to go for a ride back to hers for some more drinks," he said.
"I was just across the road from her house when about four police cars came around the corner.
"I jumped off and there must have been about 10 cops just standing there.
"They were like, `we are going to have to breath-test you' and I thought it was a joke.
"When I went up to the police station they wanted to know what the rego on the horse was."
Mr Willis said he didn't know riding a horse intoxicated was an offence and was flabbergasted at
how seriously the crime was treated.
"I don't really know what to think of it, they (police) are doing their job I suppose but it's a bit over the top," he said.
"They have no advertising about it; it's all just about drink-driving.
"If they put it out a bit more then maybe it wouldn't have happened. What damage can you do on a horse? Nothing really, just fall off, same as a pushbike, same as you can do walking."
Mr Willis's barrister said his client was `ignorant' although he added `it's not an excuse but some explanation how he finds himself in this position'.
The barrister said it was the second time in five years that he had seen this type of offence, the previous in Beaudesert several years ago.
Magistrate Andrew Walker said riding a horse intoxicated was an unusual crime, but a serious one which attracted a higher monetary penalty than driving a car.
The maximum fine for driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is $2100 compared to a maximum of $3000 while in charge of an animal.
"It is not common; it has been a long time since I have seen one involving a horse," Mr Walker said.
"But it is my opinion that I still need to send out a deterrent.
"The legislation views it more seriously than driving a car intoxicated.
"I am not going to guess why.
"Whether you have to have more skill to be in charge of a motor vehicle, I don't know."
The police prosecutor suggested it was because `a horse has a mind of its own and takes more to control than a vehicle'.
The court heard that Mr Willis had six to seven beers and spirits in three hours before his late-night gallop. He rode about 1km to his sister's house before residents rang police.
Mr Willis's speech was slurred and he smelled of liquor when he was pulled over, the court was told.
