Driver who smelled of cannabis on Thurso-Wick road is banned for a year
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A pedestrian became concerned when a young Kirkcaldy driver stopped and asked him for directions.
He formed the impression that the visitor, Robert McLaren, was under the influence of "something" and contacted the police soon afterwards.
It led to McLaren's appearance at Wick Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted having driven while under the influence of drink or drugs on the Thurso-Wick road.
Fiscal David Barclay said that police officers were in the area on March 17, and were able to quickly trace the accused's Transit van.
Officers observed that McLaren's pupils were constricted, his speech was slurred and they got a strong smell of cannabis. They concluded that he was "someone clearly not fit to drive a vehicle" and a roadside drug test confirmed it.
A blood sample revealed that McLaren (19) had been under the influence of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that the accused, of Chestnut Avenue, Kirkcaldy, had been visiting family in the Caithness area at the time.
His licence had since been revoked by the licensing authority the DVLA and he would be required to undergo a medical examination if he wished to get behind the wheel again.
Sheriff Neil Wilson fined McLaren £300 and banned him from driving for a year. McLaren was admonished on an additional charge of having been in possession of a small quantity of cannabis, which he admitted.
