prison sentence for a Smith's man Antonio Araujo, 61, of Knapton Lane, was also fined $600 and banned from driving all motor vehicles for 12 months in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

And Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King told Araujo that having an accident while impaired was a "serious offence'' and warranted a prison sentence.

"I always do this. I impose a three month prison sentence, suspended for two years,'' Mr. King said. "That's how I operate. Being involved in an accident is a very, very serious thing. The law allows for it.'' Araujo pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on June 3 on South Shore Road in Paget.

Mr. King heard that Police attended a two vehicle traffic accident at that location at about 8 p.m. on June 3.

Police prosecutor Philip Taylor said officers noted Araujo had slurred speech, he had to lean on his van to support himself and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

Sgt. Taylor said Police asked Araujo if he had been drinking and he responded that he only had three beers.

Araujo submitted to a breath test and was found to have 164 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Araujo told Police: "This is the first time I've driven a left hand truck.''