An Austrian man was convicted for drink driving at Ballina District Court this week.
Garda Eanna Cuffe outlined that on September 10 2011, after 9pm, while on patrol in the Carrowcushlawn area of Ballina, he observed a car in front of him being driven erratically. The car was being driven by Mario Mitzmannscruber, Ardrass, Attymass, Ballina. The car was observed to swerve from side to side, cross over the white line, and slow down for no reason. The lights and sirens of the patrol car were activated and the car was stopped. Garda Cuffe spoke to the driver, who appeared drunk. Mitzmannscruber failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.
After caution the defendant told the garda that he had “two or three pints”. At Ballina Garda Station he provided a breath sample which gave a reading of 114mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined the defendant €550 and disqualified him from driving for three years.
