Police stopped Zack Amidy, a P-plater from Close Street, Morpeth, in East Maitland on July 15 about 9.20pm because he was driving without his car’s headlights on along the New England Highway.  

He returned a positive roadside breath test and was taken to Maitland police station where he returned a high-range blood alcohol reading. 

Amidy had been eligible to receive his black licence for two days when the offence occurred. 

His solicitor told the court his client does not know why he drove. 

“He’s a young man who will learn a lesson from this,” the solicitor said. 

Magistrate Sharron Crews said although Amidy did not work behind the bar he should have known better because he worked in a hotel environment. 

“This is a high reading for any driver,” Ms Crews said in Maitland Local Court yesterday. 

Amidy pleaded guilty and was disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined $400 and placed on a two-and-a-half year good behaviour bond.