A drink-driver failed to respond to a police car with its sirens and blue lights on as officers drove alongside him on the A92, trying to get him to stop.
Tomasz Makos was caught driving erratically along the Fife dual carriageway during the morning rush hour after drinking at a friend’s party the night before.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard police had initially responded to reports of the van striking a crash barrier.
A sheriff described it as a “concerning episode” of driving and told Makos he could well have faced further charges, including dangerous driving.
Sheriff MacDonald pointed out Makos was employed as a professional driver at the time of the offence on April 9 this year.
Veering across A92
The court heard police received a call at around 8:30am from a member of the public who had seen a white van being driven erratically.
They were told it collided with a crash barrier near Dunfermline‘s Halbeath Road.
Procurator fiscal depute Amy Robertson said police were called and on the way, officers saw an HGV travelling northbound, flashing its lights in what appeared to be an attempt to attract their attention.
Officers spotted a white sprinter van being driven behind the lorry and swerving across the carriageway.
They suspected it was the vehicle reported.
Police caught up with the van, which was veering over the road and being driven at inconsistent speeds, suggesting the driver may have been impaired.
The fiscal depute continued: “Officers activated blue lights and signalled the vehicle to stop but they saw no reaction to this.
“They pulled alongside the van with lights and sirens activated and saw the accused did not respond to lights or signals.
“At this time, the HGV in front began to slow down and the accused slowed his van to a stop at the Lochgelly flyover on the A92. ”
Ms Robertson said police removed Makos from the vehicle and described him as smelling strongly of alcohol, slurring his words and being unsteady on his feet.
Makos, of Deas Wharf in Kirkcaldy, provided a roadside breath specimen which returned a positive reading.
He admitted driving a van while unfit to drive through drink or drugs on the A92 between Halbeath interchange and the Lochgelly flyover.
‘Fortunate’ no-one was hurt
Sheriff James MacDonald banned Makos from driving for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work.
The sheriff told him: “This is a concerning episode of driving.
“It’s quite clear that you were at the time – namely during the rush hour on a busy trunk road – heavily intoxicated.
“At that time you were employed as a professional driver and in that capacity it ought to have been abundantly clear you had no business being anywhere near the driver side of a motor vehicle in that state.
“Against that background it’s perhaps to be seen as extremely fortunate that no other member of public was harmed by the manner of your driving.
“It seems to me, had the Crown sought to do so, you could well have found yourself facing further charges, particularly dangerous driving.”
Defence lawyer Chris Sneddon said Makos had been drinking alcohol at a friend’s party and did not give a thought to being unfit to drive the next day.
The solicitor said his client had no previous convictions and was normally a “hard working man” who, as a result of this, is no longer employed but is confident of obtaining factory work.
