By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An ice-using truckie towing about 45 tonnes of dirt has pleaded guilty to speeding and tail-gating cars in a road-works zone of Monash Freeway last year.
Police had observed Tony Markovski driving a tip-truck hauling two tipping-trailers merging eastbound onto the freeway from Stud Road about 12.55pm on 15 November, a court heard.
His truck crossed quickly from the freeway’s left to the far right lane, at an estimated speed of 90 km/h in an 80 km/h road-works zone, police claimed.
As police followed further along the freeway, they detected Markovski’s speed at 102 km/h under the same speed restrictions.
He was observed not signalling as he overtook traffic, as well as tail-gating two vehicles, the court was told.
Due to a lack of stopping lanes at the time, police were unable to safely intercept Markovski until Clyde Road.
Markovski didn’t provide a licence. He told police he didn’t know he was only licensed to tow up to 9 tonnes – well under the estimated 45-tonne load.
Methamphetamine was found in his system, though he denied to police he took drugs, the court heard.
He told Dandenong Magistrates Court on 2 July that his only issue was the speeding charge; his truck was speed limited to 95 km/h.
Magistrate Pauline Spencer fined Markovski $1200 with conviction and disqualified him from driving for three months.
