Rockingham court: woman drove with young kids in the car; cocktail of drugs in system

A WOMAN who pulled into the path of oncoming traffic, while her two young children were in the car, had a cocktail of illicit drugs in her system, it was heard in Rockingham Magistrates Court today.

Chelsea Louise Whitelaw pleaded guilty to driving while impaired by drugs, using an unlicensed vehicle on the road and breaching bail when she appeared for sentencing on December 16.

The prosecutor said Whitelaw was at the intersection of Mandurah and Stakehill Roads, in the right turning lane on November 13, 2015.

He said it was 7.23am, when Whitehall drove into the path of an oncoming car, pushing it into a third car.

Whitelaw got out of her car, taking her eight-year-old and six-year-old with her and left the scene.

Police located Whitelaw a short distance away in bushland.

Due to her smell of her breath and aggressive stance she was taken to Rockingham Hospital.

A drug test came back positive to diazepam, methamphetamine, amphetamine and synthetic cannabis.

No injuries were reported by any of those involved.

Whitelaw’s car was unregistered due to unpaid fines, the prosecutor requested payment of the annual licence fee and $2580 hospital analysis fee.

Representing herself, the 28-year-old said she agreed with the facts.

“I was in a rush; I wanted to get my kids to school. There is no excuse for my behaviour,” she said.

Whitelaw said she has made changes and stopped taking drugs as her kids are more important.

Magistrate Leanne Atkins was surprised she was driving in her condition.

“That you drove with that much in your system beggars belief and had your two children in the car also,” she said.

Whitelaw produced a doctor’s note for her bail breach where she failed to appear in court.

Magistrate Atkins said it only covered Whitelaw’s court appearance of November 14, 2016.

“It only excuses you for one day. You did not surrender as soon as practicable thereafter – which was a requirement of your bail,” Magistrate Atkins said.

“You say you have dealt with your drug problem but I am still putting you on an order; albeit a short one as you say, you’ve started and that will cement that, concrete those efforts in.”

Magistrate Atkins fined Whitelaw $900 for driving while impaired by drugs.

Along with the analysis fee of $2580, $100 fine for the unlicensed car along with $103.25 half annual licence fee, $300 for the bail breach and disqualified her from driving for 10 months.