Woman Jailed for Drink Driving at Woodlands Checkpoint

A 36-year-old woman was sentenced to two weeks in jail, fined $9,000, and banned from driving for five years after driving with almost four times the legal alcohol limit and mounting a kerb at Woodlands Checkpoint.

Rachel Yeo Tingru pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving and driving without due care and attention.

Details of the Incident

On the evening of March 2, 2024, Yeo consumed two to three glasses of wine at Dempsey before continuing to Duxton Road, where she purchased and drank less than half a can of alcohol.

At around 10 p.m., she attempted to drive home to Eunos but mistakenly headed toward Woodlands Checkpoint instead.

While speaking to an immigration officer at the checkpoint, her car suddenly surged forward and mounted the kerb. The court was shown footage of the incident, which revealed Yeo’s hands were off the wheel at the time.

She was arrested after failing a breathalyser test, which revealed 130 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Prosecution Arguments

The prosecutor emphasized that Yeo’s high blood alcohol concentration indicated a serious unfitness to drive.

He highlighted the heightened potential for harm, noting that Yeo’s actions could have caused injuries to the immigration officer or collisions with other vehicles.

Defence Arguments

Yeo’s lawyer, Mitchell Leon, argued that her actions were a result of distress and panic rather than intoxication.

Leon stated that Yeo panicked when she realized she was at the checkpoint without her passport. This emotional state, combined with carelessness, caused her to lose control of the vehicle, the lawyer argued.

Sentencing

The court sentenced Yeo to:

2 weeks of jail starting Jan. 3, 2025 (sentence deferred upon request).
$9,000 fine.
60-month driving disqualification.

Judge Tan emphasized the seriousness of drink driving, noting that Yeo’s high alcohol level and lack of control over her vehicle created a dangerous situation.

The penalty for drink driving includes up to 12 months in jail, fines between $2,000 and $10,000, and mandatory driving disqualification. Repeat offenders face harsher penalties.

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