An organiser for the Bermuda Industrial Union has been banned from the roads for 18 months after he admitted drink-driving when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Louis Somner, 55, of Warwick, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on South Road in Devonshire on December 10 last year.

The court heard that police officers stopped Somner after they saw his car swerving into the opposite lane as he was travelling west.

The officers observed that he smelled of intoxicants and that his eyes were glazed. When they asked Somner if he had been drinking, he replied that he’d had one beer.

He was taken to Hamilton Police Station, where it was determined that he had 198 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood — more than twice the legal limit of 80 mg.

Magistrate Archibald Warner gave Somner a $1,200 fine and disqualified him from driving all vehicles for 18 months.

Also in court, 32-year-old Lucy Foster, of Smith’s, was banned from the roads for a year after she pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample of blood for analysis.

Prosecutor Carrington Mahoney told the court that Foster was involved in a single-vehicle road traffic accident on Collector’s Hill, Smith’s, in the early hours of May 18.

Mr Mahoney said that Police officers who attended the scene, noticed an open beer in the cycle’s cup holder and that Foster’s eyes were glazed, her speech was slurred and she smelled of intoxicants.

When asked if she had been drinking, she replied: “I drank a few beers, but I can’t remember where.”

Foster was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) for treatment for her injuries and when asked to provide a blood sample for analysis she refused the request twice.

In court today, Foster apologised and said that she was scared and in shock following the accident.

Mr Warner fined Foster $800 and disqualified her from driving all vehicles for 12 months.

In another matter, a Devonshire man was banned from the roads for a year after he also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a blood sample.

The court heard that Paulo Melo, 34, was involved in a single-vehicle road traffic accident on Jubilee Road, near the junction with Tribe Road No 1, in Devonshire on October 20 last year.

Police officers observed that Melo smelled of alcohol and when he was taken to KEMH for treatment for his injuries, they demanded a sample of blood for analysis. Melo refused the request twice.

Mr Warner gave Melo an $800 fine and disqualified him from driving all vehicles for 12 months.

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