A Gold Coast mother who was caught drink-driving twice in three hours by the same police officer has been banned from getting behind the wheel of her Tesla.
Tina Kristine Regecova, 50, pleaded guilty to two counts of drink-driving and one of driving under suspension when she appeared at Southport Local Court on Wednesday.
Tamborine Mountain was first stopped in her white Tesla SUV around midday on April 12 near Mount Nathan in the Gold Coast hinterland when she failed a roadside breath test.
Regecova was taken to the Coomera police station, where she obtained a blood alcohol reading of 0.199, almost four times the legal limit.
His license was suspended on the spot but He was back behind the wheel less than three hours later.
Tina Kristine Regecova, 50 (pictured outside court on Wednesday) had insomnia and drank alcohol to help her sleep.
The Gold Coast mother was almost four times over the legal limit, recording 0.199 the first time she stopped and 0.183 the second time.
The same police officer stopped her again and can be heard saying as she approached the Tesla, “I told you not to drive.”
Regecova told police she didn’t know she wasn’t allowed to get behind the wheel. She was taken back to the police station where she recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.183.
The court heard on Wednesday that Regecova had been struggling with insomnia and had other health problems after returning from abroad.
She had also been fasting when she decided to have some drinks in addition to the melatonin she was prescribed to help her sleep. The Gold Coast Newsletter reported.
Regecova said she did not feel “impaired” the next morning and that when police first stopped her, she was driving to pick up her son.
During her sentencing, Regecova was told that drinking and driving twice was “serious misconduct.”
But the judge accepted that had been out of line and acknowledged that Regecova had since completed several programmes.
She was fined $750 and disqualified from driving for at least two years.
No conviction was recorded.
At the time of Regecova’s arrest, Queensland Police announced a crackdown on illegal misbehavior by drivers on the Pacific Highway and throughout the Gold Coast hinterland.
The Tesla driver (pictured being pulled over for the second time in three hours) was fined $750 and disqualified from driving for at least two years. No conviction was recorded
“We are sending a clear message that risky driving behavior will not be tolerated,” Inspector Kayleen James said.
“Whether it’s speed, intoxication or improper securing of cargo, these are decisions that can have deadly consequences.
“This operation is part of our commitment to reduce tolls and make our roads safer for everyone.”
Regecova (right) told police she didn’t know she wasn’t allowed to drive after her first reading.