A DRIVER brought to the attention of police because he had snow on his windscreen was over the drink drive limit, heard Skipton Magistrates.

Neil Smith, 50, who has a previous conviction for driving while unfit through drink, drove a short distance to a petrol station from his home in Kildwick at around midday on March 18, after celebrating an anniversary with his partner the night before, the court heard on Friday.

A member of public pointed out the snow on Smith’s windscreen to which Smith responded there was nothing wrong, the court heard.

He filled up with petrol and had driven off when he was stopped by police. He provided a positive road side test and was taken to the police station where he was found to have 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35.

The court heard Smith, an HGV driver, was convicted in 2011 for driving while unfit through drink and was banned from driving for 22 months.

Smith, of Main Road, Kildwick, who pleaded guilty to drink driving, could no longer work as an HGV driver and was looking for other work, the court heard.

He had driven just a few hundred yards to the petrol station and back again at about midday and had believed he was fine to drive after drinking two bottles of wine the night before.

He was banned from driving for three years and was fined £150 with costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30. If he completes a drink drivers rehabilitation course, his ban will be reduced by a third.