Telford driver banned after positive drugs test
Police who stopped the driver of a car which had tinted windows discovered that the man was driving under the influence of drugs.
Dale Breakwell had smoked cannabis before heading out in his car on June 5, Shrewsbury Magistrates Court was told.
The 23-year-old from Maypole Road, Broseley, Telford, was picked up by police who thought the windows on his new car were too dark.
But while speaking to him they smelt cannabis and performed a roadside saliva test for the presence of the drug.
Prosecutor Mrs Abbie Hall told Shrewsbury Magistrates Court: "The test was positive."
Breakwell admitted driving under the influence of drugs. The town's magistrates fined him £300 and ordered him to pay costs of £85, a surcharge of £30 and court costs of £150. They also banned him from driving for 14 months.
Catherine Junor, for Breakwell, said: "This conviction for drug driving will have devastating consequences for him. He had been working as a delivery driver on June 5 and had finished work. He went to the drive-through KFC in Telford and then smoked a very small amount of cannabis.
"His car was playing up and he wanted to check it out so he took it for a small run.
"He was not suffering from any side effects from the cannabis. He was aware there was a police car behind him and he pulled over. The reason for them stopping him was due to the tinted windows on his car.
"There was no suggestion of any concern over his manner of driving or impairment.
"They helped him to remove some of the tint from the windows and it was only then that they requested a test which proved positive for cannabis.
"There is zero tolerance in regard to this."
