Woman spotted slumped at the wheel in car park was six times over drink drive limit

Police officers arrested the woman at Hermiston Gait on June 11 after receiving reports she had been boozing in her vehicle for some time.

The woman provided a roadside breath sample of over 210 microgrammes of alcohol. The legal limit is 35mcg.

She later refused to provide a sample at a police station and was cautioned and charged, with her vehicle being seized.

Her arrest came as part of the annual two-week Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) Summer Drink and Drug Drive Campaign, with officers also finding a man with a bag of white tablets attached to his underpants.

In total, 229 people across Scotland were charged with drink-driving during the crackdown between June 4 and 18, while 18 vehicles were seized.

On June 13, police stopped a vehicle after spotting it swerving across the road in Pumpherston, West Lothian.

The 48-year-old woman driver provided a negative breath test, but officers suspected her to be under the influence of illegal substances and she was arrested before later failing a drugs test.

The next day, a 29-year-old man was arrested after his vehicle collided with a kerb and signpost before overturning on the slip road for the A1 at Dolphinstone in East Lothian.

Drugs were discovered tied to his underpants during a search, while a breath test found him to be three times over the legal limit.

The car, which was destroyed in the collision, had been taken without consent and the driver was uninsured.

With the figures down – from 238 arrests – on last year, police chiefs said they thought the message on drink and drug driving was getting across, but warned that those who continued to flout the law were a danger to other motorists.

Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson of Lothian and Borders Police and Road Casualty Reduction Lead for Acpos, said: “The figures are marginally down on this time last year and that is refreshing to note.

“We welcome that trend and it is good to see that the number of people caught for driving whilst unfit through drugs has decreased. Hopefully the message is getting across.

“However, it remains concerning that drivers across Scotland have still opted to get behind the wheel when they are clearly incapable of driving safely. They pose a danger to other innocent road users and that is unacceptable.

“There are increased patrols on Scotland’s roads at present and the police are focused on catching drivers who take to the road whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

“I would encourage the public who suspect anyone of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs to contact the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”