Lisa's lowdown

Lisa McLure, from Smiths Beach, became a favourite among readers with her weekly column last year, which detailed the lockdown rollercoaster she experienced with her husband Tim and children Angus and Evie.
Lisa returned to our pages earlier this year by popular demand. But then her columns came to an abrupt halt in April.
Here she explains the reason why, telling a personal story as a warning to all drivers.

“It was the night before Good Friday when Tim finished work about 4.30pm and like most tradies, had a few medium strength beers with his mates.

He drove home about 5.30pm and cracked one in the car. He’d been so busy that day he hadn’t eaten and this changed his metabolism.

Just as he was coming home – out of the new Back Beach Road roundabout, down the hill into Smiths Beach – he heard the lights and sirens.

Tim pulled up in our driveway and the police said he was speeding in a 60km zone. For all the 17 years we’ve lived here it has been an 80km zone driving into Smiths and then 60km at Dolphin Drive.

On the other side of the road it’s 60km going out all the way. So it’s an inconsistency but we weren’t about to argue with the police.

They then breath tested him and said he was over the limit.

As is standard practice they tested him again after 10 minutes and because he was still over they took him to San Remo police station where they told him he blew .055, so in other words .005 over the limit.

In all the years Tim has been driving he has had one speeding fine in 20 years. He has a clean record other than that. He is not a person to drink and drive.

The officers were really lovely. They told him they knew he was a good bloke but they can’t just let him off.

It’s now so strict that even if you’re over the limit by just a tiny amount you suffer the consequences. It’s black and white.

I’ve spoken to so many people who think they can sweet talk the police around and will be let off with a warning. But that’s not the case now. It’s strict.

It’s also illegal to have open alcohol in the car, even for the passenger, which we didn’t know. (According to VicRoads: You must not drink alcohol, even if your blood alcohol concentration stays below the legal limit, while driving a motor vehicle.)

So the consequences to our life have been dramatic.

Cost

If you’ve got a clean record you lose your licence for three months. (According to Victoria Police there are different outcomes based on age, driving history and alcohol reading).
Tim had to hand in his licence from the end of April through to August.

Then for six months he has to have an interlock on his car, which will cost $1300. He will need a second interlock for his work truck which will cost the same again (interlocks cost between $1200-$1500).

Every month the interlock has to be recalibrated at a cost of $230, for six months. You have to blow .00 for those six months and if they find any inconsistency, they extend the interlock for another month. (According to VicRoads a violation includes blowing a reading of .02 or more).

The speeding fine was $320, the driving under the influence was $800.

Tim had to do a behavioural online course for six hours over two nights which cost $250.

For three years he has to drive at .00.

I’m saying all this with Tim’s consent because we want to get the word out about the impact on your life. So many people don’t realise how big it is.

It’s not a criticism of the law or the officers, they’re doing their job.

I spoke to one of the female constables and she was lovely. She said ‘you don’t see what we see as a result of drink driving’. She told me it’s tough, even for a small amount over the limit, because you don’t see the impact. She was earnest.

The point is so many people I’ve spoken to have been shocked. I care so much about our community I want them to know this story.

Even if you’re slightly over the limit it will have a massive impact on your family. It has been so hard not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, physically.

For a month Tim rode his bike to San Remo at 6.30am each morning where a mate picked him up to go to work. He rode in rain and the cold.

Normally he’d be with the kids for breakfast while I was in my studio taking a PT class.

But because he had to leave so early Evie and Angus were getting up alone, with no one there and Evie in particular started to get anxious and act up because she wanted our attention.

So I realised I had to cancel all my PT sessions and just focus on the family. My clients have been so understanding and said they’ll come back when I start again in August.

Stopping the studio has been another financial hit, so probably all up it’s cost us almost $10,000.

Upheaval

Each morning now I drive Tim to San Remo where one of his colleagues then drives him to Wonthaggi. I pick him up in the afternoon, which is 40 minutes each way for me, but it means I get to talk to him alone for that time, which is nice.

A tradie without a ute is difficult, but his boss has been amazing. Rather than have him driving around he has him in the workshop.

Aside from that it’s also the small things. He can’t just go to the hardware if he needs something or go for a surf.

Before all this happened I’d planned to have shoulder surgery, which went ahead. The community was so supportive – friends drove me to Melbourne and back, did the shopping, cleaned the house and when I could drive again after a week I even swapped my manual car with a friend’s automatic.

The upheaval to our whole life has been massive.

Everyone thinks ‘it won’t happen to me’. But people need to stop and think if I don’t have my licence what happens?

I want people to be aware that you don’t have to be drunk or have a record to end up with an interlock and without a licence.

It can happen to anyone and your whole life goes into turmoil.

Don’t take the chance, it’s just not worth it.”