A YOUNG MAN with a clean record has been fined $500 for mid-range drink-driving.
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James Alexander McKinnon pleaded guilty when he represented himself before Magistrate Andrew Eckhold in Dubbo Local Court.
Police said the 19-year-old was arrested after he was found fishtailing in a vehicle in Macquarie Street in the early hours of August 18.
The court heard McKinnon had not eaten before consuming eight to 10 beers.
"At the time I was not thinking,'' McKinnon told Magistrate Eckhold.
"I deeply regret my actions.
"I learnt a lot by participating in the traffic offender education program.''
The court heard McKinnon was employed and earned about $600 a week. He lived 10 kilometres from Dubbo with a single mother who was in hospital after fracturing her spine in a fall from a horse.
Magistrate Eckhold said McKinnon's drink-driving charge was aggravated by the manner of his driving.
"You made a bad decision,'' the magistrate said.
McKinnon was disqualified from driving for six months.