Tigers player fined over driving
Herald-Sun
06jun06
THE Richmond player whose drink driving and speeding last year cost his AFL club a key sponsor has been fined for driving without his P-plates.
Probationary driver Jay Schulz, 21, received a fine of $50 plus $37 in costs after pleading guilty to the charge today.
Last year, Schulz lost his driving licence for six months and was fined by the police and the club after recording a blood-alcohol reading of .065 and driving 80km/h in a 40km/h zone while on a probationary licence.
Schulz did not appear for the P-plates display matter in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
Police said Schulz was pulled over on Bridge Road, Richmond, after officers spotted him driving on Lennox St on January 9.
He showed police his back P-plate, which was ripped and unable to be displayed, the court heard.
Schulz's lawyer Paul Horvath said the front P-plate was from South Australia and was obscured by the registration sticker.
Magistrate Phillip Goldberg asked why Schulz was not in court.
Mr Horvath said it was because the charge was a summary matter.
"He ordinarily has employment engagements during the day," Mr Horvath said.
Outside, Mr Horvath said the matter had come to court because Schulz had initially wanted to challenge the penalty notice.
In April last year, the Transport Accident Commission ended its 16-year association with Richmond after Schulz became the second Richmond player in four years, after former player Royce Vardy, to be arrested for drink-driving.
It cost the Tigers $500,000 last year, but the Australian Finance Group (AFG) stepped in with a two-year deal worth $800,000 a year, leaving the club $300,000 better off.
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