A taxi driver who claimed he had suffered a string of bad luck left Magistrates' Court $1,000 poorer this week after he pleaded guilty to driving while impaired when he had passengers in his car.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill told Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves that on September 1 this year, 44-year-old Errol Burgess fell asleep at the wheel of his taxi and collided with a wall on the property of St. Joseph's Church.

She said when Police arrived on the scene, they found Burgess' two passengers trying to get out of the overturned vehicle. One sustained a serious cut on the leg while the other suffered minor abrasions. The vehicle was substantially damaged.

When a sample of Burgess' blood was taken, the alco-analyser indicated that he had 127 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

"I really apologise to the courts," Burgess, of Chaingate Hill, Devonshire, told Mr. Greaves. "I lost my mother, my father had a stroke, and lightening blew the chimney off my house. I was working extra hours as the head of household."

In addition to the fine, Mr. Greaves disqualified Burgess from operating all vehicles for 12 months but advised him that if he was interested in cutting his ban short he could enrol in the Bermuda DUI (driving under the influence) school, which is an educational programme for impaired driving offenders.

If he successfully completes the programme he may be able to have his license reinstated in nine months.