News / Unaware of new drink driving limit
A LERWICK man unaware that Scotland’s drink driving law had changed before taking to the wheel while marginally over the limit has been banned from the road.
Benjamin Davis, of 25 Westerloch, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to driving on Scalloway’s Port Arthur Road on 30 April with 28 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, while also being uninsured.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the police were alerted in the early hours of the morning due to the manner of the 28 year old’s driving and a defective headlight.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had been drinking earlier in the day and having been in Australia for a number of years, was unaware the Scottish drink-drinking limit had become stricter.
He said Davis was visiting an old friend as he returned to Shetland to be a best man at a wedding.
Sheriff Philip Mann said it was “unfortunate” that the ex-pat fell foul of the new alcohol limit.
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but I see the excess is not particularly large,” he ruled.
Sheriff Mann disqualified Davis from driving for one year and fined him a total of £550.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
