NSW: Bulldogs' Maitua pays big price for drink driving

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2006
NSW: Bulldogs' Maitua pays big price for drink driving

By Nick Ralston

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - Rugby league player Rene Maitua says he is deeply embarrassed
by a high-range drink driving conviction that resulted in him being banned from driving
for 18 months and fined $2,800.

The Bulldogs' utility, a P-plate driver, pleaded guilty to the drink driving charge
after blowing 0.165 in a random breath test just before midnight on April 25 at Cronulla,
in southern Sydney.

While the reading is more than three times the legal limit for a fully licensed driver,
the limit for P-platers is zero.

Appearing in Sutherland Local Court today, Maitua, who was accompanied to the hearing
by Bulldogs football manager Bradley Clyde, had his licence suspended for 18 months, backdated
to April 26 when his licence was confiscated by police.

The maximum suspension for high-range drink driving is three years.

Handing down the ban and a fine of $2,800, Magistrate Glenn Bartley said he had taken
into account the $15,000 fine already imposed on him by the Bulldogs rugby league club,
$7,500 of which had been suspended.

"I have taken into account ... the heavy financial punishment already imposed on him
by the club," Mr Bartley said.

But he said Maitua was a P-plater who had been on his "way to another watering hole
(and) not going home when he was apprehended."

"(A reading of) .165 suggests a surprisingly high tolerance for someone who strives
to be an elite sportsman but that's a matter for you."

Outside the court, Maitua said he was remorseful for what had occurred.

"I'd just like to apologise again for what I've done," he told reporters.

"I've done the wrong thing, the magistrate was fair and I'm just going to accept my punishment."

The court was told Maitua had left his car, gifted to him by a sponsor, at home on
the night of the incident, but was caught by police driving the car of a friend to another
hotel some distance away.

The sponsor's car has since been taken away from him.

Asked if he was ashamed at having taken his friend's keys and starting to drive, he
said: "Of course I'm embarrassed."

The court was also told Maitua has been forced to move from his Maroubra home where
he is paying a mortgage and has also had to pay board to live with a friend in Sylvania
Waters since losing his licence.

This was to enable him to get a lift to and from training and to other football club-related
events with teammates who live in that area.

Maitua will be eligible to drive again on October 25, 2007.

AAP nr/was/jt/sd

KEYWORD: MAITUA NIGHTLEAD

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