Firas Saeed, 21, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to two counts of driving while suspended, speeding, and driving without P plates.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Anna Hanlon told the court Saeed was picked up speeding at 73km/h in a 60km/h zone between Hayes and Swallow Sts at 9.14pm on July 26, 2024.
When police did a licence check, they found his driver’s licence had been suspended for four months from March 28, 2024 due to demerit points.
This licence suspension was due to finish the day after he was stopped by police; however, a further suspension had been put on his licence until all his fines had been paid, Leading Sen Constable Hanlon said.
A P2 probationary driver, Saeed also was not displaying P-plates on the car.
The court was told that, when interviewed by police, Saeed admitted speeding but denied any knowledge about his licence being suspended.
Four months later, at 2.16am on November 26, 2024, Saaed was pulled over by police in Archer St.
His driver’s licence was still suspended.
Saaed, who works in security, told police he didn’t know his licence was suspended, and he thought he would have had it back.
Representing himself in court, Saeed said he called Fines Victoria and they said if he paid 20 per cent of his fines he could have his licence back.
When questioned by the magistrate about how many fines he had, Saeed said $5000 worth.
Magistrate Simon Zebrowski fined Saeed $800 and did not record a conviction.
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