Australian drink driver let off because she had no public transport

A Sydney woman has escaped punishment for a drink driving charge after telling a magistrate she lived in an area with no public transport. Jasmin Clair Henley, 27, who lives in the north-western suburb of Cattai, attempted to drive home from a work dinner with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.067.

She told police she had two glasses of wine over a two-hour dinner in the Eastern Suburbs before attempting to drive home. Arguing that no buses or trains came near her home and a taxi would cost her around $175, Ms Henley said she needed to keep her licence in order to travel.



In a decision that could set a dangerous precedent - and put people who live in remote areas above the law - Magistrate Brian Maloney said there were not enough public transport options available to people living in Sydney's north-west. "If she lived in any other suburb around Sydney ... like Paddington ... there's no way on earth I would consider dismissing the charge," he said. "It's not like she could jump on a 333 bus to Bondi."

Ms Henley said:. "It would be too hard to get anywhere. There are no buses at all that come past my house and the nearest train station is Mulgrave, at least 20 minutes away. I've never been in trouble before. This is my first offence. I know I'm really lucky."