A Smith’s driver has been banned from the road for 18 months and fined $1,200 after police heard his passenger complain that he was drunk.

Dennis Matthew admitted driving while more than double the legal alcohol limit on Cavendish Road, Pembroke, on the evening of August 2.

Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that police officers in an unmarked police vehicle on Cavendish Road noticed the car in front of them swerving erratically and that the front passenger door appeared open.

The car pulled into a bus layby and a man emerged from the passenger’s side, saying: “I cannot drive with this guy any more. He’s drunk.”

Officers spoke to driver Matthew, who smelled of alcohol and appeared to be unsteady on his feet.

Matthew told police he had had two beers and some swizzle.

The 61-year-old later provided a breath sample, which showed he had 190mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood — more than double the legal limit of 80mg.

In a separate case, Callan Woolridge admitted driving while nearly three times the legal alcohol limit.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo banned Woolridge from driving for three years and fined him $2,000.

The court heard that Woolridge, 30, was pulled over on August 13 on North Shore Road, near Radnor Road, as part of a police random check.

Officers noticed his breath smelled of alcohol and Woolridge admitted he had had “three Elephants” that day. A breath test later revealed 239mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

The court heard that Woolridge had been convicted before for drinking and driving.

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