Police allege a Hadspen man carried a woman clinging to the back of his vehicle at high speed up the Southern Outlet and along the Bass Highway after a dispute in the South Launceston McDonald's car park.
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Cody James Thorp, 28, made a first appearance on several charges arising from alleged incidents on December 11 last year in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday.
He did not plead to the charges and was granted an adjournment until December 2.
Mr Thorp is a prominent footballer with the Tasmanian State League premiers Launceston.
Tasmania Police allege Mr Thorp was the driver of a vehicle in the car park at McDonald's in Howick Street, South Launceston, when he reversed when unsafe to do so.
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A second count alleges Mr Thorp was a driver involved in a crash failed to stop to give assistance which may be necessary and practicable to do so.
Police also allege Mr Thorp cast litter of less than 55 litres, namely a plastic bottle, onto land owned by McDonald's.
A fourth count alleges he drove a motor vehicle while exceeding the 0.05 alcohol limit, namely 0.132.
Police allege in the dangerous driving charge that he drove on Howick Street, Midland Highway and Bass Highway in a manner which was dangerous to the public in relation to the nature, condition and use of the public street and to the amount of traffic that was actually at the time.
The particulars in the court file allege: "You reversed your motor vehicle into another vehicle whilst a person was on the rear of your vehicle in the McDonald's car park."
"You drove out of the McDonald's car park at excessive speed.
"You drove onto Howick Street, Midland Highway and Bass Highway at an excessive speed," the police charge sheet said.
"You drove the vehicle at all times whilst a person was clinging to the rear of your vehicle."
In 2017 dangerous driving became an indictable offence-that is one which could be heard by a jury in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
Under the Criminal Code Amendment (Dangerous Driving) Bill 2017 the maximum penalty for dangerous driving was increased when it was transferred from the Traffic Act to the Criminal Code.
Under section 389 of the Criminal Code the penalty provides for a maximum jail sentence of up to 21 years and disqualification from driving under section 55 of the Sentencing Act.
In April, Mr Thorp pleaded guilty to exceeding 0.05 and received a six-month disqualification and a $700 fine after being caught driving a Toyota Hilux in Salamanca Place in September last year.
Mr Thorp returned a reading of 0.133 after drinking eight to 10 beers. He was intercepted by police on mobile patrol.
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