A Hadspen man who allegedly carried a woman clinging to the back of his vehicle up the Southern Outlet pleaded not guilty to driving charges when he appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court.
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Cody James Thorp, 28, pleaded not guilty through defence counsel Grant Tucker to the count of dangerous driving on December 11 last year, a charge to be heard in the Supreme Court.
He also pleaded not guilty to reversing when unsafe to do so, being a driver involved in a crash and failing to provide assistance and depositing litter in a public place.
Police prosecutor Alexander Pemberton said police would tender no evidence on a count of driving a motor vehicle while exceeding 0.05 - namely 0.132-and it was dismissed by Magistrate Ken Stanton.
Mr Stanton adjourned the dangerous driving charge for preliminary proceedings on February 8 next year and adjourned indefinitely the remaining charges.
Police allege Mr Thorp, a prominent footballer with the Tasmanian State League premiers Launceston, 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.
"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.
"You drove the vehicle at all times whilst a person was clinging to the rear of your vehicle."
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.
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