A man who tried to buy his way out of trouble was yesterday taken off the road for a year and fined for driving while under the influence.

Steven Espey, 55, of Wreck Road in Sandys Parish, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court for the offence.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette told the court that at 8.40 p.m. on April 27 Police received a report of an accident on South Road, Hamilton Parish, near Black Watch Hill.

As Police drove along they were flagged down by Espey who asked the officers if they could take him home.

Sgt. Mouchette said the officers, suspecting that Espey might have been involved in the reported accident, drove him to the scene where he identified the car alongside the road as his.

The officers asked Espey if he had been drinking and he replied: "Yes I've had a few drinks, please take me home.'' Sgt. Mouchette said Espey was informed that he was being arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence. To which he replied: "Guys, this is silly. I don't want to go to jail. I want to go home. I'll give you $400 if you take me home.'' Espey was taken to Hamilton Police Station where he refused to take a breathalyser test.

In addition to the 12-month driving ban, Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Espey to pay a $400 fine for driving under the influence.

Driving while under the influence cost a Warwick man his licence yesterday.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis heard that Neil Malcolm, of Rubber Tree Lane Warwick, was spotted by Police on his red scooter travelling at speeds of 50 to 55 kph, heading south on Somerset Road.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette told the court that Malcolm was swerving across the road and that when he was stopped by officers they noticed his breath smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred.

He was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station where an alco-analyser test showed he had at least 173 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Mr. Francis banned Malcolm from driving all motor vehicles for a year and ordered him to pay a $400 fine.

A 36-year-old man yesterday pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to driving while under the influence.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis heard that Police were on patrol when they approached what appeared to be a single-vehicle accident on North Shore Road, Devonshire on April 27.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette said the officers saw Gary Ascento, of Hermitage Road, Devonshire, standing near the car and observed that his eyes were red and his speech slurred.

The officers asked Ascento if he had been drinking, to which he answered: "Yes, I work hard all week.'' Ascento was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station where a breathalyser test showed that he had at least 254 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Mr. Francis ordered Ascento to pay a $450 fine and banned him from driving all motor vehicles for 12 months.