A Moray motorist has been caught behind the wheel while more than six times the drink drive limit, new figures have revealed.
The latest statistics in the police’s crackdown on drivers flouting the law are due to be presented to the local authority on Thursday.
But while the figures show the number of drivers caught from January to June has fallen by nearly a third this year – the force has warned too many motorists are still putting others lives at risk.
A report prepared for the council’s police and fire and rescue committee shows one offender was caught more than six times the limit, with another caught five times over.
Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Douglas Ross, who is also the Scottish Conservative’s shadow justice secretary at the Scottish Parliament, is concerned about how high some of the levels were.
He said: “Decades ago people used to think you could chance it. For the majority the message is quite clear.
“It’s a concerning thought that there are still some that think they can drive having drunk so much alcohol, which can clearly have fatal consequences.
“It’s encouraging that the number of people caught has reduced. I felt the message the lower limit set would deter them and it’s concerning to still see so many doing it.”
Men accounted for the overwhelming majority of those flouting the law, accounting for 37 of the drivers breathalysed by officers.
In a report for the meeting Sergeant John McAdoo told councillors lowering the limit was intended to encourage fewer drivers taking the chance of being caught drunk.
He said: “Today, unfortunately, it remains clear that there are still a small minority of motorists who are willing to put themselves and all other road users at great risk by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Elgin recorded the highest amount of offenders with 17, eight were caught in Forres and seven in Buckie.
Elgin City South councillor John Divers said: “It doesn’t matter how strong the message is, there will always be elements that don’t listen. At six times the limit it’s amazing they could still stand, let alone drive.”
During the same time period three drivers were caught under the influence of drugs, with the police describing the low number as “positive”.
