AN AYRFORD woman who refused to give police a breath test has been banned from driving.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jill Ludeman, 53, of Ayrford Road, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to refusing a police breath test on August 9 last year.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Harris said Ludeman had ignored police signals to pull over and only stopped when she reached her home.
She refused the breath test when approached by police in her driveway.
“The accused said ‘I’m not blowing into that, you didn’t get me on the road ... I’m at home,” Senior Constable Harris said.
However, the court heard Ludeman’s condition was more likely due to a mix of medications.
Defence counsel Alice Reynolds said her client had taken her medications too close together and had been struggling to sleep in the days before the incident.
“She instructs that she hadn’t been drinking and she may have been affected by medication,” Ms Reynolds said.
Magistrate Peter Mellas said he was sympathetic to Ludeman’s circumstances, but said he had no choice but to suspend her licence.
“Whether or not you have alcohol in your blood, you have to give a test,” Mr Mellas said.
Ludeman was banned from driving for two years and was fined $350.