An elderly taxi driver is off the road for a year and a half after pleading guilty to driving while impaired.

Neville Smith, 73, apologised to Magistrates’ Court, saying that he had never run into trouble before and that he had paid for the damage caused by the collision on April 18.

According to Crown counsel Larissa Burgess, Police responded to a damage-only collision at about 11.40pm on that date and found two cars stationary in either lane of Camp Hill Road, Southampton.

Both vehicles were damaged, with one motorist describing a taxi crossing into her lane and striking her car as it came around a turn.

Smith, who told Police he had earlier consumed two beers and a portion of Grand Marnier cognac liqueur, gave a breath reading of 119mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, comfortably over the legal limit is 80mg.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo told Smith he recognised the impact it would have on his livelihood but pointed out that disqualification is mandatory.

On top of the 18-month driving ban, Smith was fined $1,200.

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