Buckie drink driving lands learner (17) with year ban and £600 fine
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A LEARNER driver (17) caught drink driving in Buckie has been disqualified from trying to obtain a licence for a year.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found to be over the limit on Sunday, July 30 when police stopped him on Buckie High Street.
A breath test recorded a reading of 39/100, exceeding the legal limit of 22/100.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard (August 24) that the teenager was also driving with no insurance and without any L plates upon his vehicle.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood fined the defendant £600, payable at the rate of £50 per month.
The teenager was told that he would be able to get his ban reduced from 12 to 9 months, provided he paid for and passed a drink drivers' rehabilitation course.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said concerns over the teenager's driving were first reported at around 2.20am.
She added that, after police attended, the 17-year-old provisional license-holder "immediately" approached officers and identified himself as the driver.
After a roadside test, he was taken to Elgin Police Station where he was confirmed as having been drink driving.
Mitigating, solicitor Stephen Carty said: "The situation is that, that evening, drinks had been consumed.
"The accused had stopped drinking and thought it would be better for him to drive than his partner driving.
"He can only apologise to the court for his decision making on July 30.
"It’s a matter of regret for him."
