$3100 fine and year driving ban for Buswell
Former WA treasurer Troy Buswell has been fined $3100 and disqualified from driving for a year after pleading guilty to 11 traffic offences arising from crashes on February 23.
Mr Buswell, 48, was not required to appear in Perth Magistrate's Court this morning.
But he gave an endorsed plea of guilty to three counts of failing to stop at a traffic accident, four counts of failing to report a traffic accident and four counts of careless driving.
Mr Buswell who has announced he was back on deck full time as the Member for Vasse after taking a leave of absence since the crashes.
Troy Buswell, 48, has kept out of the public eye since his crashes on February 23 and taking a leave of absence from Parliament. File picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian
Magistrate Steven Heath said Mr Buswell had given police "no explanation" for the acts.
He said Mr Buswell was entitled to a 25 per cent discount for his early plea and noted he did not have a criminal record.
Magistrate Heath said Section 55.2 of the Road Traffic Act provided for suspension of licence and "I think in this case it's appropriate".
He said failing to stop was of most concern because it prevented damage victims seeking civil restitution and hampered police investigations.
March 11: Police assess evidence at Troy Buswell's home. Picture: Ben Crabtree The West Australian.
Total damage to the cars Mr Buswell sideswiped and rammed was $6373.93, according to police prosecutor Patrick Cavagin.
In a media statement released following the hearing, Mr Buswell said he "offered no excuses for his actions".
"I...apologise to those upon whom I have impacted and accept fully the consequences as determined by the magistrates court today," he said.
Mr Buswell spoke to his local newspaper this week, his first media presence since crashing his car into his Subiaco gate after a wedding on February 23 and having a mental breakdown.
Mr Buswell, who resigned as transport minister and treasurer two weeks after the crash, told the newspaper he was looking forward to putting his ministerial experience to good use by arguing for local infrastructure and services.
