Failing to give way on a roundabout is never looked upon favourably, however doing while disqualified when the other vehicle was a police van proved even worse for one Griffith man.
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Samuel Finefeuiaki, 34, further refused, five times, to do a breath test as well as refusing a breath analysis after his arrest.
On July 21, a police officer had to brake heavily to stop an accident with Finefeuiaki in a white Holden Commodore, who failed to give way at a roundabout on Banna Avenue.
Police turned on their lights, but he kept driving before finally pulling up at a family member's house.
Noticing his unsteadiness and "glassy eyes", coupled with the strong smell of alcohol coming from him and a container with "yellowish alcohol" in his car, police tried to breath test Finefeuiaki.
After continuously pulling away and refusing the test no less than five times saying "I'm not doing it", he was handcuffed and taken back to Griffith Police Station. He yet again refused to take a breath analysis.
He claimed to have thought the flashing police lights indicating for him to pull over were "neon lights".
Checks on his license revealed Finefeuiaki was disqualified from 2015 until 2025, and has been marked as a habitual offender.
Olivia Harris, representing Finefeuiaki, conceded there was very little help in the facts especially against "the backdrop of a flurry" of driving offences in his history.
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Yet outlining his support of his family, as well as grief from the passing of his father, said his prison time would be best served "in a meaningful way" to payback the community.
Magistrate Joy Boulos said he was lucky the sentencing assessment report was as favourable as it was, otherwise she would have sent him "straight to jail".
For the drive while disqualified, Finefeuiaki received a nine month supervised intensive corrections order and 120 hours of community service.
For refusing the breath test, he got a 12 month supervised ICO, interlock for two years with a nine month disqualification. He will have to undergo rehabilitation for his alcohol problem.
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