First offender could lose his job after drink driving
Engineer is hit with roads ban
An engineer has been banned from the road and hit with a hefty fine after he was caught driving at two-and-a-half-times the legal limit.
Alin Pitica, 35, was at the wheel of his Audi A6 when he was pulled over by cops at Renfrew Road because of his ropey driving.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Pitica, of Renfrew, promptly failed a roadside breath test early on May 3 when officers questioned him.
Procurator fiscal depute Kirsten Brierley said: “At 2.20am, the accused was driving his black Audi 6 northbound on Renfrew Road and police witnesses on uniform mobile patrol duties were also travelling northbound on the same road behind the accused.
“Police witnesses had reason to stop the accused’s vehicle using their lights.
“They carried out checks on the driver. When they approached the accused’s vehicle, they detected a strong smell of alcohol on his breath.
“Police witnesses required the accused to provide a specimen of breath, which he provided.
“The device recorded ‘fail’ and he was placed under arrest.”
Pitica pleaded guilty to driving his vehicle while the proportion of alcohol was 51 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, and the legal limit is 22mcg.
His defence agent told the court a driving ban may cost his client his job.
She said: “He is a first offender and he has no endorsements on his licence.
“This is his first appearance in a court of law.
“He drives everywhere for his work as a systems engineer and this disqualification will affect his employment.
“He is deeply ashamed at himself and regrets his actions in this matter.
“He understands he will lose his licence but I would ask the court to give him credit for his early plea of guilty.”
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew confirmed that Pitica had no endorsements on his licence via checks with DVLA Swansea.
However, he told him the law requires that he be banned from the roads.
He said: “You will be disqualified from obtaining or holding a licence for 14 months.
“It would have been 21 months, but for the timing of your plea of guilty.”
He also fined Pitica £ 600 and recommended he sit the drink-driving rehabilitation scheme before getting behind the wheel again.