By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A FATHER has successfully argued against the impounding of his car after his Noble Park ice-using son pleaded guilty to a series of disqualified and suspended driving offences.
The 28-year-old son, Daniel Araujo, was convicted and placed on a treatment-based 12-month community corrections order at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 15 August, after serving 83 days in remand custody.
Police had applied to further impound the father’s Subaru Impreza, which was locked away for 30 days after one of Araujo’s offences.
In October last year, Araujo – in his 18th conviction for driving suspended or disqualified – was caught speeding in his father’s car at 95 km/h on the Princes Highway, Springvale.
The Subaru was immediately impounded for 30 days, the court heard.
After the father took the witness stand, Magistrate Jack Vandersteen declined to further impound the car.
He noted the father was under a reasonable impression that Araujo wasn’t suspended at the time, and he and his wife depended on the vehicle.
“I can see your dad’s a good man,” Mr Vandersteen told Araujo. “He’s a hard-working and supportive parent.
“He would have borne the cost (of the impoundment).”
Araujo’s lawyer had told the court the accused was using ice at the time of the offences, and was stressed by a close relative’s serious health issues involving a liver transplant.
In another of the charges, Araujo was intercepted by police at a Cranbourne North car wash, gave a false name and then fled on foot.
He was captured in Lawless Drive when tackled to the ground by a police officer.
Police seized six grams of ice, six valium tablets and an ice pipe with scales, drug paraphernalia and a pocket knife from Araujo’s car.
Araujo was caught driving disqualified after federal police found him parked in a disabled car parking space at a servo near Melbourne Airport in January last year.
In May that year, he was also found driving while suspended and in an ice-affected state at Dingley International Hotel. In his car was a knuckle-duster and two prohibited knives.
On that occasion he was deemed by police to be unfit for interview.
Mr Vandersteen noted Araujo’s prior and that he “dodged a bullet” due to a suspended sentence not being invoked for the Melbourne Airport matter.
He said disqualified and suspended drivers were more likely to be involved in car crashes because of their risk-taking behaviour.
Araujo’s licence was disqualified for 12 months.
