Already banned, five times the limit and no insurance, but she still drove

A WOMAN who was uninsured and already banned from driving was caught behind the wheel while five times the legal limit after members of the public reported her to police.

The 31-year-old driver, in Torry in Aberdeen, had previously been banned for a drink drive offence when she was stopped by police at 9:30pm on 17 December during the third week of the festive “Drink Drug Drive” campaign.

A total of 92 people were caught driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and a quarter of those were caught as a direct result of calls from members of the public.

Deputy Chief Constable Tom Ewing, from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: “The incidents this week clearly demonstrate the disregard that these offenders have for life. Not only are they putting their lives at risk, but they are risking the lives of their passengers and other road users who are innocently travelling about visiting family and friends over the festive season.

“The message must get out to those who continue to think this behaviour is acceptable: Don’t risk it. Don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No matter what the level of alcohol is in your body, if you are over the limit even by a small amount, you will lose your licence, you will receive a fine and you will be arrested and treated like any other criminal.

“We are now into the final week of the campaign and increased patrols will be out on the roads 24 hours a day targeting anyone driving illegally. I would like to thank the public for their continued support in tackling this unacceptable behaviour. The fact that around one in four offenders is being caught as a result of public calls shows that it’s not only the police that are on the lookout for offenders.”

Also caught by police last week was a 37-year-old woman driver who was found to be under the influence of alcohol with a seven-month-old baby in the car. She was stopped by ­officers at 6:20pm on Thursday, 20 December, in Strathclyde.

The driver failed a roadside breath test and was taken to Dumbarton police office where she was charged with being drunk in charge of a child.

In the east of the country, at 7:35am on 18 December, the driver of a white Peugeot van was seen hitting a tree and fence on Lauriston Farm Road, Edinburgh, before running off towards Silverknowes Golf Course.

Police officers found the man’s driving licence and other documentation in the van. A search of the area was carried out and the man was discovered hiding in the forest area next to Muirhouse Mansions.

He was found to be twice the legal limit and was already on bail for drink driving.