Taxi Driver Online

Rhyl taxi driver four times over drink-drive limit


A TAXI driver hired to help ensure Christmas revellers got home safely was caught more than four times the drink-drive limit.

Alan Humphries, 47, had two passengers in his cab at the time, Prestatyn magistrates were told yesterday.

He was given a suspended jail sentence, banned from driving for three years, and must retake his test before driving again.

Humphries, of Cae Gruffydd, Rhyl, admitted having 150 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35.

At Prestatyn Magistrates Court, chairman David Harrison said it was the highest level he had come across in his 15 years on the Bench, and the fact that Humphries was in such a position of trust made the offence much worse.

Mr Harrison said: “The fact that no harm was done was really fortunate but there was a high risk to the passengers and to the public.”

After considering a pre-sentence report, the magistrates imposed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Humphries was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend a drink-impaired drivers’ course.

Peter Humphrey Jones, prosecuting, said that at 11.15pm on December 20, Humphries was stopped by police in Cefndy Road, Rhyl, and there were two passengers in his Citroen Xantia.

“His speech was slurred and they smelled intoxicating liquor on his breath,” he said.

Humphries failed a roadside breath test, and after being taken to St Asaph police station was found to have 150 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

“At this time of year members of the public are urged to act responsibly and not to drive a motor vehicle after drinking any alcohol.

“They are encouraged to use taxis, in which they expect to be safe,” said Mr Jones.

“This is probably one of the highest readings ever to come before the court, and the offence is aggravated by the fact that he was carrying passengers who were entitled to have trust in him.”

Andy Hutchinson, defending, said the only mitigation was that Humphries, who had been a taxi driver for over 12 years, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“There doesn’t seem to have been any reason for stopping him other than the normal drink-driving campaign, and he was as surprised as anyone when the machine registered such a high reading,” he said.

Mr Hutchinson added that Humphries had finished work at 2am on the 20th and drunk vodka until 6am, when he went to bed. He started another shift at 6pm.

Mr Hutchinson said he did not really seem to appreciate the possible consequences of his actions and was terrified to learn that he could be jailed.

He now intends to go back to his old job as a roofer.

A spokeswoman for A and J Taxis, of Rhyl, for whom Humphries was driving at the time, said later: “He was self-employed, having been granted a driver’s licence by Denbighshire County Council, and had merely done about three shifts for us to help us out.”

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