Ezra Mam disgrace as driving history before head-on crash is revealed

The shock driving history of NRL star Ezra Mam has been revealed.

The 21-year-old Broncos player did not receive a conviction for the drug-driving crash in October, but on Monday the magistrate fined the 21-year-old $850 and suspended his licence for six months.

That penalty has been slammed by people wide and far, including the Brisbane government who called it “disgraceful”.

And now it has come to light that Mam has a long history of traffic offences and at the time of the head-on collision his licence had already been suspended three times.

News Corp has uncovered the full list of Mam’s offences that include speeding, failing to stop at a red light, and driving while using a phone.

The latter penalty was in May this year where Mam’s licence was suspended.

News Corp also points out that Mam was fined $1161 fine for that offence, a harsher punishment than the recent head-on crash that landed him in hospital and also injured a four-year-old girl in the other car.

Mam has had various suspensions and fines since 2021, including speeding fines in 2021 and 2023, failing to wear a seatbelt properly in 2022, a State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) suspension in 2023, the mobile phone fine in 2024, and three late-night driving restrictions in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

There are also the three (three month) demerit point suspensions in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

News Corp also notes that Mam appears to be on “a provisional licence which allocates four points to drivers over a 12-month period and imposes late night driving restrictions for those who accumulate excessive demerit points”.

Mam told police at the scene of the October 18 crash that he knew his licence had been suspended because of lost demerit points.

The magistrate said on Monday: “Having made that stupid decision to get behind the wheel of the car, and using illicit substances as well … a cocktail of cocaine and other matters that were found in your blood on this particular occasion.

“At so many levels you are fortunate to stand where you are today given you were involved in a two vehicle motor accident. You could’ve been injured or killed or the other parties could’ve been injured or killed.”

Mam is at risk of a lengthy NRL ban. He gave a brief statement after leaving court.

“Today is an important step in owning my actions and starting to make things right. To all the people involved in this accident, I’m truly sorry,” he said.

“This incident isn’t a reflection of who I want to be, or what’s expected of me as a role model. To the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos, the fans and my family, I’m sorry.

“I promise to work on being a better person and representative of the club and the game that I love.”

Queensland’s Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the penalty for the cashed up five-eighth was less than a fine for using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

“I can understand that for many Queenslanders, this outcome doesn’t pass the pub test,” she said in a statement during the week.

“Most Queenslanders would expect that the penalty for a driver who’s found to have drugs in their system would be more severe than the penalty for using a mobile phone behind the wheel.”

Ms Frecklington confirmed she would be considering legislation changes in light of Mam’s penalty.

“I will be consulting with my colleagues, in particular the transport minister, and considering what changes can be made to our laws,” she said.

- With AAP