Three-year ban for drink driver who drove wrong way up one-way street

Sunday 16 July 2023

A motorist who drove the wrong way up a one-way street while over the legal alcohol limit has been banned from driving in Jersey for three years.

Cristinel Limba-Scurta (46) drove the wrong way up Don Road at 23:00 on Thursday night, the Magistrate's Court heard.

Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, said police officers on patrol in the area saw Limba-Scurta attempt to turn his car round when he realised his mistake.

They stopped him and Advocate Ridley related: "He was slurring his words slightly and they could detect a faint smell of alcohol. He told them he had had a drink about an hour ago, a little bit of vodka."

A roadside breath test showed 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal maximum is 35 micrograms.

Advocate Lucy Marks, defending, said Limba-Scurta had been co-operative with police throughout.

She added: "It was a genuine mistake as he was unfamiliar with the road."

Magistrate Bridget Shaw imposed a £2,400 fine and ordered Limba-Scurta to retake his driving test before driving in the island again.