driving private automobiles for two years and fined $600 in Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to impaired driving.

Hewitt Caines of Band Room Lane was, however, allowed to keep his truck licence after pleading for an exemption -- on the grounds of necessity -- from Senior Magistrate Will Francis.

Mr. Francis was told Police officers patrolling Middle Road, Southampton, in the early hours of March 2 observed a grey Volkswagen Golf speed up behind them, tailing dangerously close to their cruiser's rear bumper while swerving side to side.

The officers allowed the Golf to pass and observed it nearly hit a stone wall, then veer over the centreline, before coming to a stop in front of Warwick Secondary School.

Officers approached the vehicle and noticed the smell of alcohol on Caines' breath; he was also unsteady on his feet, Police Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the Court.

Caines was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station, where he subsequently agreed to a breath test, blowing 1.50 milligrams of alcohol for 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is .8 milligrams.