A drink driver from Brookmans Park who crashed his car into a lamppost before driving home has been fined more than £500 by magistrates and disqualified from driving for a year.
Henry Dace, aged 21 years old and from Calder Avenue, was sentenced at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 15th December after admitting drink driving.
At 1am on Sunday 29th November this year, police received a report of a road traffic collision on Moffats Lane in Brookmans Park. A vehicle had hit a lamppost, knocking it down and causing significant damage to the vehicle, before driving off in the direction of Gobians Wood.
A short time later, Dace was arrested by police and admitted causing the collision and having drunk four or five pints prior to getting behind the wheel. He had attempted to drive too quickly round a bend and lost control of the vehicle and skidding into the lamppost.
In court, Dace was fined £390, plus a victim surcharge of £39, costs of £85 and a criminal court charge of £150. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 12 months.
PC Andy Finnan, from the Welwyn Hatfield Safer Neighbourhood Team, who investigated the incident said: “Throughout November and December, police have been running a campaign to tackle drink driving in Hertfordshire. This case shows how seriously the police and the courts take drink or drug driving. Within hours of the offence, Dace was placed in a police cell and within weeks, he was banned from driving and facing a large fine to pay as well.
“By drinking and driving you risk your life, those of your passengers and others on the road. Having ‘just one more’ could be the difference between where you end up that night; a police cell, maybe a hospital bed, or worst case, a body bag – so don’t take the risk. We advise if you’re drinking, even just one, don’t drive and arrange an alternative way of getting home.”
In Hertfordshire there is a designated, confidential reporting line for members of the public to report drink drivers and those driving under the influence of drugs. Calling 01707 354 111, which is available 24/7, allows people to supply the force with information to help us reduce the number of drink drivers on our roads.
More information about drink driving, the law and the dangers can be found on the force website here http://www.herts.police.uk/advice/drink_driving.aspx.
