6 Month Disqualification for P-Plater Caught 0.171 with Baby in Car

A P-Plater caught drink driving with a child in the car has been disqualified from driving for just 6 months.

28 year old Jodie Rae L’estrelle-McCarthy was arrested at 2am on Sunday 27 November at the Hungry Jacks in Coffs Harbour after allegedly returning a blood-alcohol reading of 0.171.

A friend of the p-plater was also in the vehicle along with the friend’s baby.

In Coffs Harbour Court on Monday , Local Court Magistrate Walker sentenced Ms McCarthy to a 6 month disqualified from driving and fined $800. The woman was also ordered to have an alcohol interlock system installed in any vehicle she drives for 24 month when she returns to driving.

Talking to Channel Seven News at the time, the provisional driver from Dorrigo seemed unapologetic for her actions.

"If I killed myself, so be it," she said.

On Triple M on Wednesday, broadcaster Ray Hadley questioned the sentence received by the woman charged with High Range PCA.

“So she is high range, she has a 6 month old in the car, she’s a p-plater, and the best we can do is give her 6 months?”, Hadley said.

Hadley is asking that someone speak with the Police or the Attorney General’s Office regarding an appeal.

When asked about the six month old baby in the car, she told the 7 News reporter, “Isn't it like the mother's responsibility to not put their kid in risk of someone else's danger?"

On the same day, the woman’s husband Ken Owen was also charged with drink driver with his three children aged under 10 in the car in Dorrigo.

The 47 year old allegedly returned a PCA reading of 0.065, and does not hold a driver’s license.

Listen to Ray Hadley’s comments below:

 See the original story on Seven News:

Video & Photo: 7News Sydney