Alarmed motorist saw drugged-up driver stumbling from his car
Digger operator fined and banned from the road
A digger driver has been banned from the roads after he was spotted looking unsteady on his feet as he got out of his car.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard how Frayne Hay, 29, parked his car at a bus stop, put his hazard lights on and got out to go into a shop in the town’s Glasgow Road.
A concerned motorist saw him making erratic manoeuvres and suspected he might be drunk at the wheel.
He was unsteady on his feet, raising further concerns and when officers arrived to investigate, they too became suspicious as his speech was slurred.
A breath- test gave a negative result, but suggested Hay might be under the influence of some substance.
Following his arrest and subsequent examination by a doctor, it was concluded that his ability to drive had been impaired by drugs.
When Hay, of Renfrew Road, Paisley, appeared in the dock, he admitted being unfit to drive on March 21.
Depute fiscal Pamela Flynn said he had been spotted driving with a passenger in the car at 1.40pm and the alarm was raised due to the nature of his driving.
After police arrived and questioned him, he was “incoherent,” seemed to be confused and had excess amounts of saliva coming from his mouth.
Defence agent Murray Macara said his client, a digger driver who worked on construction sites, did not need his licence to keep his job as he wasn’t required to drive any of the machinery on public roads.
Mr Macara revealed that police subsequently retrieved three- and- ahalf grams of cannabis in a search and added: “Perhaps that might provide some explanation here.”
The court was told that the accused’s VW Golf TDI had been seized by police at the time and had been held in a compound for almost three months, depriving him of its use.
Ms Flynn said she had been instructed to move for forfeiture of the vehicle.
Mr Macara explained that Hay had paid £2,500 for the car and there was still £400 outstanding in loan payments, and that he would intend to sell it if allowed to keep the car.
Sheriff Seith Ireland refused to grant a Confiscation Order. Instead, he imposed a £475 fine to be paid at £100 per month and banned the accused from driving for a year.
Sheriff Ireland also said Hay would be allowed to sit a drink-drive rehabilitation course, which if successfully completed could see him getting his licence back after nine months.