A man whose works van was “reeking of cannabis” has been banned from the roads after he was found to be more than four times the limit.
David Smith, 39, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted being under the influence of cannabis while behind the wheel of his blue Ford Transit van.
It was stated that police saw the van being driven in an “erratic” manner and when they stopped the vehicle they noted that Smith had “glazed, bloodshot eyes”.
A roadside breath test came up negative, but a saliva test found Smith was heavily under the influence of cannabis at the time.
‘Strong smell of cannabis’
Fiscal depute Kate Scarborough told the court that at around 7.50am on June 11 last year, police officers were on mobile patrol on North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen when they became aware of Smith’s blue Ford Transit van.
“The vehicle was observed as being driven in an erratic manner and was making sharp turns,” she said.
“Officers stopped the vehicle and noted a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle and that the accused had glazed, bloodshot eyes.”
A roadside breath test showed Smith was negative for alcohol but a saliva test carried out at Kittybrester Police Station proved positive for cannabis.
It showed the level of cannabis in his system was nine microgrammes of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol per litre of blood. The legal limit is two microgrammes.
Smith pleaded guilty to one charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while exceeding the legal limit of cannabis.
Accused was ‘dependent’ on drug
Defence solicitor Gregor Kelly told the court that his client had become “socially isolated during lockdown and had become dependent on cannabis”.
“He is a first offender, but this matter came to a head last summer when his works van was found reeking of cannabis and he was handed in interim disqualification from driving,” he said.
“Mr Smith has realised that he has lost a great deal as he can’t get to jobs and his income has been hit considerably.
“He is now refraining from cannabis use and here’s hoping there’s a bright future ahead of him.”
Sheriff Eric Brown told Smith that, as a first offender, he would make him subject to the minimum disqualification.
He banned Smith, of Scylla Drive, Aberdeen, from driving for one year and fined him a total of £350.
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