PAUL Bullock was happy to submit to a random breath test for alcohol when pulled over by police, but he refused to have his saliva tested for illegal drugs.
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A foul-mouth tirade at police was followed by: “I have done this three times”.
Bullock was unmoved when the officer told him that failing to comply with a drug test direction was an offence.
“I’m not doing that,” Bullock said and then gripped the steering wheel when told he was under arrest.
Then it got ugly.
“Police attempted to remove the accused from the driver’s seat with his demeanour spiralling out of control,” said police facts tendered to Wagga Local Court.
“Police have physically had to remove the accused from the vehicle where he continued to struggle (when) police have placed the accused on the ground and placed handcuffs on him.”
Bullock’s behaviour was extreme, but other drivers are also refusing to take the test for illicit drugs, which involves the swiping of an absorbent collection device across a person’s tongue.
On the same day Bullock pleaded guilty to driving with an illicit drug – he eventually gave in and tested positive to methamphetamine and cannabis – two other men faced a charge of refusing or failing to submit to an oral fluid test.
One of the men was charged twice with the offence.
Anyone who consumes illegal drugs and then drives risks being caught days and even weeks afterwards.
One woman has appeared in court on five counts of driving with an illicit drug, while another faces four charges.
It is not unusual now for people to be charged two or three times within days.
Bullock, 47, of Ashmont, was fined $500 and disqualified from driving for six months on the drug charge.
He was also placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond for resisting police.
Bullock was jailed for seven months, with three months’ non-parole backdated to November 14, after pleading guilty to breaking into an automotive repair business and stealing car parts. He told police he was affected by ice when he broke into the Urana Street business in October.
Bullock’s solicitor, David Barron, told magistrate Erin Kennedy his client had a long-standing substance abuse problem.
“The drug use is the monkey on his shoulder he just has to get rid of,” Mr Barron said. “The intention is there, it’s just a matter of putting it into practice.”
Ms Kennedy told Bullock he was at the point in his life where he needed to make a commitment to change. “Or you will spend the rest of your life in and out of jail,” Ms Kennedy said.
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