Goulburn Hospital radiologist avoids loss of licence after court finds community would 'suffer'

Darren Peter Jones, 48, of Goulburn, pleaded guilty to charges of exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h, and not keeping left of a dividing line. He appeared before Goulburn Local Court on June 9.

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Magistrate Geraldine Beattie told the court that Jones had overtaken three other vehicles at once, while travelling at 140km/h in a 100km/h zone, and crossed two parallel lines along Lachlan Valley Way near Boorowa in February 2021.

Solicitor Matt Adam said his client had held a licence for 31 years and was "someone of good character".

Mr Adam told the court Jones needed his licence for his role providing radiology services to outlying areas.

"[Jones] supplies a significant service to the community," he said.

He told the court that Jones had been involved in "many instances where he's helped with victims of serious crashes".

Mr Adam argued his client had completed a Traffic Offenders' Course which "had a significant impact on his entire thought process."

Magistrate Beattie said people who lived in outlying areas in the region relied on Jones.

"You didn't take into account your need, and the community's need, for you to have a licence," she said.

"Clearly, the role you play is a significant one and other communities will suffer if you can't do that work.

"The real worry is the danger you posed to everybody else and that you, despite the role you perform, made that decision."

The magistrate told the court that "if one of those cars had veered out the consequences would have been tragic".

"You thought it was more important that you get where you want to go than the safety of everybody else," she said.

"When you made these poor decisions on that day you knew the work that you do.

"If you're here before me again I will take your licence away for as long as I can."

Jones received a 12-month Community Release Order and a $1200 fine. No conviction was recorded.

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