By Dave Lord

A LATVIAN driver who swerved wildly over a dual carriageway, smelt strongly of alcohol, refused to provide police with breath specimens, drove while disqualified and was not covered by insurance, did so as a result of “cultural differences” a court heard yesterday.

Imants Zacs was spotted by police as he made erratic progress up the Perth to Dundee A90 last month.

The foreign national—who has amassed six convictions for road traffic offences since his arrival in Scotland three years ago—was seen to dive into the back seat as police officers approached.

However, the 27-year-old eventually admitted he had been driving the car.

At Perth Sheriff Court Zacs, appeared alongside an interpreter, pleaded guilty to failing to give breath specimens when required to do so by police on March 22.

He also admitted to driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Depute Fiscal Vicki Bell gave details of the offences.

“A police officer driving a marked vehicle eastbound between Errol and Inchture noticed another car being driven erratically,” she told the court.

“The car was swerving across the carriageway, crossing lane markings.

“The officer summoned assistance from a colleague...and the vehicle was ultimately stopped in a lay-by one mile east of Errol.

“As the car stopped the driver moved into the rear seat and a male passenger sat in the driver’s seat.”

Despite the attempted ruse, Ms Bell said police were quickly able to establish that the accused had been driving. Officers detected a strong smell of alcohol and asked Zacs to give a breath specimen.

“He refused without providing any reasonable excuse,” the depute fiscal continued. “Further checks were carried out at Perth police headquarters and revealed the now accused to be a disqualified driver. He was again required to give two specimens of breath and again failed to do so.”

Solicitor Cliff Culley said Zacs, of Thistle Court, Aberdeen, had already spent 26 days in custody since being charged in connection with the incident.

“Mr Zacs indicated to me that he and a friend were travelling from Prestwick airport to Aberdeen,” he said.

“He decided to drive to allow his friend some rest. Police approached as they were in the lay-by swapping back.

“He was aware he was disqualified and driving without insurance and accepts full responsibility for that.

“However, his appreciation of the seriousness of these offences appear to be affected by the cultural differences between Scotland and Latvia.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie was unimpressed by the excuse given.

“You are a man who clearly pays no attention to the laws of the road,” he said.

“You have a spate of road traffic offences since 2004...and are not learning the rules.

“Either that or you do understand them and simply chose to ignore them.

“Having regard to all the circumstances I believe custody is the only appropriate disposal.”

Zacs was jailed for 80 days, back-dated to March 23, and banned from driving for five years.