A Koonawarra sparkie who did a 110 metre long burnout in front of police asked them if they’d “caught it on camera” when he was stopped, a court has heard.
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Police said Chaise Whital, 20, twice crossed onto the wrong side of the road on the evening of July 16 last year as his Holden SS Crewman ute fish-tailed out of a roundabout at speed at the intersection of Fairwater and Sierra Drive in Horsley.
Police travelling about 15 metres behind the ute said they saw Whital slide the vehicle into the roundabout before accelerating out of it, causing the wheels to lose traction and spin.
Officers said they heard the engine rev loudly as the ute crossed to the wrong side of the road and travelled 20 metres before Whital steered it back into his own lane.
However, they said the car’s wheels continued to spin and the vehicle began fishtailing along the roadway, again crossing to the wrong side of the road before it was righted.
“During this time, tyre smoke could be seen billowing out from the rear wheel arches…. engine revs could be heard loudly from within the police vehicle, which was 15m to the left and behind the accused’s vehicle,” officers wrote in a statement of facts tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.
“The accused seemed to have little disregard for public safety while conducting a 110m burnout.”
When pulled over and asked about the burnout, Whital responded “do you have it on camera? If it’s not on camera you can’t prove it.
“I only just put my foot down, I didn’t lose traction.”
Officers confiscated the ute on the spot and suspended Whital’s licence.
Whital pleaded guilty to reckless driving and burnout charges in court on Wednesday.
Defence lawyer Danny Lagopodis told the court Whital needed his licence to look for a new job so he could support his young family.
“He lost his job because his licence was suspended because of this offence,” Mr Lagopodis said.
However, Magistrate Roger Clisdell said Whital could still get a job without a licence and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.
“If he ever drives like this again he mightn’t be so lucky next time, he might kill himself or someone else.”
He also fined Whital $1500 – $1000 for the dangerous driving and $500 for the burnout.
