A 35-year-old drink-driver has been fined and taken off the roads for 18 months.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court this morning, Dennis Lottimore pleaded guilty to driving on North Shore Road while impaired by alcohol or drugs on March 24.

The court heard that police attempted to stop the Warwick resident after they spotted his car swerving over the centre line.

However, as he was being approached by an officer, he drove off. When the officer caught up with him, his car was stationary with the front end in the entrance to a private residence. Lottimore was seen fiddling with the keys in the ignition, attempting to restart the car.

When asked by the officer if he had been drinking, he said: “I had one drink.”

Lottimore refused to give a sample of breath for analysis.

Magistrate Tyrone Chin handed Lottimore a $1,200 fine and banned him from driving all vehicles for 18 months.

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