Second man loses car for drink-driving

Published on Thursday 7 January 2010 08:48

A SECOND man has forfeited his vehicle after being caught drink-driving on multiple occasions.

Vasile-Lucian Vintea, 23, from Edinburgh, had his Renault Laguna permanently removed by police after pleading guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and without a valid licence.

He was caught during a month-long police crackdown over the festive period, and prosecuted under the government's new policy of seizing cars belonging to repeat offenders.

Vintea pleaded guilty to all three charges at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week .

Sheriff Nigel Morrison placed a vehicle forfeiture order on the car, and deferred sentence on Vintea until 26 January for reports.

A total of 76 drivers were caught driving while under the influence of either drink or drugs by Lothian and Borders Police during a national campaign that ended on Monday.

The number of drivers caught during the latest campaign is down on last year's figure of 95, and down even more on the previous year's figure of 133.

Of the number of drink/drug drivers caught by Lothian and Borders Police during this campaign, seven had their cars seized pending a court decision.