Drink driver caught while over three times the limit

Sep 8 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DRINK-DRIVER has been banned from the roads for four years after being caught behind the wheel while over three times the legal limit.

Uldis Zarins was stopped by police officers on East Main Street, Whitburn just before 3am on July 2 after they noticed his erratic driving.

“When they spoke to the accused he appeared extremely intoxicated and off balance,” fiscal depute Graham Jessop told Livingston Sheriff Court.

“He provided a positive roadside breath test and was taken to Livingston Police Station.”

At the police station the 34-year-old provided a positive breath test with a reading of 111 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath — over three times the legal limit of 35mg per 100ml.

Zarins, whose address was given as Kirk Brae, Longridge, pled guilty to drinks-driving when he appeared at the court last week.

His solicitor, Elaine Brunger, told the court her client had come to Scotland from Latvia in 2003.

Ms Brunger added: “He has been in full-time employment ever since he came to Scotland. He works as a night shift manager in a seafood factory.

“On the night in question he had been visiting a friend who had bought a new car.

“They had been drinking Latvian beer. He went to bed with the intention of staying but he got up through the night and had something to eat. At that stage he made the serious error of judgement that he would be able to drive.

“He does accept how irresponsible his behaviour was. Other than this and his previous conviction, which is analogous, he appears to be a law abiding and hard working man.”

Ordering Zarins to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and disqualifying him from driving for four years Sheriff Martin Edington said: “Drinks-driving is rightly always considered to be a serious offence.

“This is not your first drink-driving offence in this country but rather your second and it is with a reading which is more than three times the drink-drive limit.

“The social enquiry report which is in very good terms does seem to suggest an appalling lack of regard for road traffic law but it does say you understand the consequences of your actions as regards other road users.

“I have come to the conclusion that the appropriate sentence in this case need not be a custodial sentence. I am prepared to accept that the social work department, having investigated matters, feel that a community payback order where you will carry out unpaid work for the community is available as a sentencing option.

“You will also be disqualified from driving for four years because this is your second conviction and it is a very high reading.

“You need to be aware that if you appear in this court again for an offence of drink-driving you will almost certainly be looking at the loss of your liberty and that may be for a considerable amount of time.”