Warning not to risk drink-driving

MOTORISTS have been warned not to risk being caught drink-driving if they are tempted to drink more alcohol because of the very hot weather.

A warning that this was a "dangerous time of year" was sounded at Grimsby Magistrates' Court as a driver was banned from the roads even though he was only just over the limit.

District Judge Daniel Curtis spoke out over his fears that motorists could be tempted to drive with more alcohol in their system because of the hot weather.

He said there was a danger that drivers might not realise that they were risking their licences by drinking a bit extra because of the baking weather – and it could prove to be a very costly mistake.

He told the court: "It's a dangerous time of year for people to be having a couple of drinks."

He urged people not to fall in to the trap of having a couple of drinks because the weather was hot – and then being caught drink-driving.

Mr Curtis said he wanted to warn drivers to take extra care, especially because it was likely that there would be a lot of good weather in the next month or so.

His warning came as motorist Derek Nuttall was banned from driving for a year despite being only just over the limit.

Nuttall, 64, of Hawthorne Avenue, New Waltham, admitted drink-driving on May 31.

He was stopped in Cross Street, Waltham, at about 9.42pm and he smelled strongly of alcohol.

A blood test revealed he had 84mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Nuttall, who is working, told the court: "I was guilty of doing it. I'm sorry about it. It will never happen again.

"I had been out for tea. I thought I would be fine."

He had no previous convictions.

Nuttall was fined £300 and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £30 victims' surcharge.

Mr Curtis told Nuttall that, even though he was only just over the drink-drive limit, there was a minimum road ban of a year for the offence.

The next day, another drink-driver was banned from the roads by magistrates.

Mark Roddis, 43, of Melrose Way, Grimsby, admitted drink-driving and speeding on June 30.

He drove at 50mph in a 30mph limit in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, in the early hours and a breath test revealed he had 97mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Ghaff Khan, mitigating, said Roddis had been to a wedding and stopped drinking in the evening but made a "silly mistake" by taking a chance over driving.

Roddis, who is working, was fined £490, banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £40 victims' surcharge.