A learner driver drunk behind the wheel of a car, caught the eye of police after driving with extreme caution.
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Bibek Bastakoti came to the attention of police for his "extreme level of caution" while driving along the Mitchell Highway in Dubbo about 2am on September 12 this year.
Police said they spotted the 25-year-old reversing a car out of a drive way, and approach the intersection at the Mitchell Highway and Macquarie St.
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According to police Bastakoti slowed down - close to a stop - before quickly turning left onto Macquarie Street where he pulled over on the side of the road.
Officers approached the vehicle and spoke with Bastakoti and asked him if he had consumed any alcohol in the last 15 minutes, which he denied.
Further checks revealed Bastakoti was the holder of a learner licence, and was not displaying any plates on the car.
According to police, the officers noticed Bastakoti was slow to react to verbal cues and noticeably slurring his speech.
When police asked him to submit to a passive breath test and count to ten, Bastakoti appeared not to understand and began blowing onto the device.
Following a positive breath test, Bastakoti was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station, where he returned a positive alcohol reading of 0.111.
In Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, Bastakoti pleaded guilty to mid-range drink-driving.
Defence lawyer Jai Silkman said Bastakoti was in Dubbo on a working visa as a registered nurse.
Mr Silkman said in his letter to the court, Bastakoti was concerned how a conviction would impact his immigration and employment status.
It's the police case that Bastakoti's should have "the faculties and experience" to know the dangers of drink-driving, and had only held six months of driving experience.
Magistrate Gary Wilson disqualified Bastakoti from driving for six months and fined him $500. Bastakoti was exempt from installing an interlock device as he does not own a vehicle.