Eighteen-month ban for driving while impaired

A 21-year-old man was banned from driving after he admitted driving a car while impaired.

Andreas Palumbo was pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while impaired on March 21.

In court this morning, Crown counsel Geoffrey Faiella told the court police officers were dispatched to Green Bay Road in Hamilton Parish after reports of a black vehicle driving away at a high rate of speed.

When they arrived, they saw a black Opel parked near the entrance of the road with three men standing nearby.

While speaking to the men, Palumbo said he wasn’t involved in any disturbance.

Officers noticed his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred.

Palumbo then pulled a car key out of his pocket.

He was then arrested for having care and control of the car while impaired.

The defendant said: “I had about four drinks but you didn't see me driving”.

At the Hamilton Police Station, Palumbo refused to take a breathalyser test.