A 42-year-old man has been disqualified from driving for 17 months after being caught driving under the influence on the M5 motorway in Somerset. Enock Chitsara, from Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire, was found to be nearly twice the legal alcohol limit when police stopped him at Gordano Services, following reports of dangerous driving.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 17 August. At approximately 11.30pm the previous evening, a member of the public alerted police to a motorist driving erratically near Bridgwater. Police used Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) to locate Chitsara’s Ford Ranger pickup near junction 22 of the M5 northbound. Officers observed the vehicle weaving between lanes and braking unpredictably, even slowing to 28mph, before following it to junction 19 and Gordano Services.
Upon stopping the vehicle, officers noted that Chitsara appeared drowsy and detected a strong smell of alcohol. A roadside breath test confirmed he was significantly over the drink-drive limit. Subsequent evidential testing at custody showed a breath alcohol concentration of 60 microgrammes per 100 millilitres, nearly double the legal limit.
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Chitsara was charged with driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit and appeared in court on Monday, 14 September. Alongside the 17-month driving ban, he was ordered to pay fines totalling £556.
PC Jack Keane emphasised the dangers posed by driving under the influence, stating, “Drink and drug driving puts lives at risk and there is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel while impaired. The driver’s actions on the motorway posed a significant risk to others that night. Thankfully, a member of the public’s report enabled officers to intervene and remove the driver from the road.”
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson urged those aware of habitual drink or drug drivers to report suspicions anonymously via their online form. They added that if an incident is occurring at that moment, people should always call 999.