Redland Mayor Karen Williams pleads guilty to drink driving
Redland Mayor Karen Williams has been sentenced to 80 hours of community service after pleading guilty to a drink driving charge.
Williams was also disqualified from driving for six months in a decision handed down in Cleveland Magistrates Court earlier today.
Williams returned a blood alcohol reading more than three times over the legal limit after crashing a council-owned car into a tree in Cleveland, southwest of Brisbane on June 23.
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Karen Williams, pictured entering the Cleveland Magistrates Court. Nine
Both the 55-year-old and a passenger who was in the car at the time were not seriously injured.
On the night of the crash, Williams had finalised the municipality's budget, then had four glasses of wine before leaving the council offices.
The crash happened shortly after Williams had held a Zoom meeting with the families of victims of drink-drivers.
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Williams has ignored calls for her resignation and said she plans to start back at work again later this week. Nine
In July, Williams took personal leave, temporarily stepping aside from her role, after she was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol with a reading off 0.177 percent.
Today, protesters gathered outside the court demanding she resign from her position on the council.
Williams refused to take questions from reporters on whether her role as mayor was still tenable.
"I know I have hard work to do," Williams said outside court.
"And I will regain that trust as I return to work later this week."
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