Inverness court call for drug drivers to get same chance of ban rebates as drink drivers.

A SHERIFF called on the Scottish government for drug-driving legislation to “catch up” with that of drink-driving to allow disqualification discounts for drivers falling foul of the law.

Currently, drivers who have consumed excess alcohol above the 22mcgs limit can pay for a rehabilitation course advising them of the danger of drink-driving.

If they successfully complete it, they get a discount of one week for every month of a ban.

But drivers who have been caught driving with drugs in their system above a safe level, do not qualify for a scheme.

Sheriff Gary Aitken was sentencing 42-year-old Roland Harrower, of Wyvis Place, Inverness who pleaded guilty to driving with 2.3mcgs of a cannabis metabolite in his system in excess of the 2mcgs safe level.

Police saw him trying to park outside his home on August 2, last year but was having difficulty, fiscal depute David Morton told Inverness Sheriff Court. A test for cannabis proved positive.

Sheriff Aitken fined Harrower £520 and banned him from driving for a year.

Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said: “He has been driving for almost 20 years without any endorsements.

“He is extremely apologetic because the loss of his licence will cause him problems getting to and from his work as a chef.

“I don’t think the rehabilitation scheme is applicable for this type of offence.”

Sheriff Aitken confirmed this, adding: “I would imagine the same difficulties arise as they do for drink-drivers so hopefully parliament will catch up on the legislation.”