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Truckie Gurjeet Singh Gill pleads guilty to more than six times alcohol limit, disqualified from driving for six months

No criminal conviction was recorded and speaking to the media outside the courthouse Mr Gill observed that learning from his mistake he had quit drinking.

Gurjeet Singh Gill, a 44-year-old truck driver from Queensland, allegedly blew more than six times the alcohol limit.

It was reported that Mr Gill even struggled against police during his arrest.

Mr Gill was charged with one count each of being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor and obstructing police.

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It was reported that Mr Gill was seen driving on Dreamworld Parkway on December 12, 2023 and then found by the side of the road with his engine still running.

Image: Stills taken from police cam footage of the arrest of a truckie at Coomera (Source: Queensland Police)

On reaching, police found an empty 750ml bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon beside Mr Gill who allegedly refused to submit to a roadside breath test.

He then briefly struggled with police during his arrest which was captured in the police cameras.

Image: Stills taken from police cam footage of the arrest of a truckie at Coomera (Source: Queensland Police)

Police alleged that Mr Gill recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.311 after being taken to the Southport watchhouse.

Earlier this year, speaking to reporters outside the Southport courthouse, Mr Gill said he planned to fight the allegations because he “needed justice” and claimed he was sleeping in the truck while on his break and had drunk about “half a bottle” of alcohol.

“I’m not driving, I was sleeping. If I’m driving then I would say yes, I would plead guilty, but I was not driving.”

However, when his case was brought up in the Southport Magistrates Court, Mr Gill pleaded guilty to one count each of being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence of liquor and obstructing police.

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Image: Stills taken from police cam footage of the arrest of a truckie at Coomera (Source: Queensland Police)

The court was also told that Mr Gill is the father-of-two and had a history of depression. It was also reported that he had turned to alcohol to cope with his own father’s death two months prior to the incident.

Magistrate Jane Bentley said Gill’s offending was out of character. She added that it was driven by his personal circumstances, with no allegation he drove or even tried to drive while so intoxicated.

Image: Stills taken from police cam footage of the arrest of a truckie at Coomera (Source: Queensland Police)

No criminal conviction was recorded and speaking to the media outside the courthouse Mr Gill observed that learning from his mistake he had quit drinking.

Mr Gill has been fined $600, ordered to complete 40 hours of community service, and disqualified from driving for six months.

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