A man from Ripon has received a ban after being found more than nine times over the specified limit for benzoylcgonine and twice the limit for cocaine.
Benzoylcgonine metabolite is triggered in the body following use of cocaine.
On 22 November 2016, 23-year-old Joseph Morrison, of Burton Leonard, Ripon, was found guilty at Harrogate Magistrates Court of driving a motor vehicle on a road whilst in excess of a prescribed drug limit.
A blood test result, obtained after Morison was arrested in the early hours of Sunday 9 October 2016 confirmed the quantity of drugs present in his system.
Morrison was observed by a North Yorkshire Police traffic officer to drive at speed on Harrogate Road towards Ripon city centre. He then contravened a road closed sign and continued onto High Skellgate.
Morrison provided a positive drug saliva specimen at the roadside and was duly arrested.
Traffic Constable David Minto said:
Morrison’s driving prior to his arrest clearly fell below the standards of a safe and competent driver.
As a result, he was stopped and dealt with accordingly. I am hugely satisfied that we have taken another motorist off the roads who clearly has scant regard for others.
We will not tolerate this behaviour on the roads of North Yorkshire and will leave no stone unturned in our determination to put these drivers before the courts.
Morrison received an 18 month disqualification, a £500 fine and £135 costs.
