Wolverhampton drink-driver clocked at 100MPH in 30mph motorway roadworks zone
A drink-driver clocked speeding at 100mph in a temporary 30mph zone on the motorway after undertaking a police car has been banned from the roads for two years.
Triston Hamilton, 30, from Wolverhampton was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when traffic officers stopped his Volkswagen Scirocco on the M6 near Birmingham.
Hamilton, of Fordhouse Road, Bushbury, was also fined £665 at Birmingham Magistrates' Court yesterday after pleading guilty to drink driving and speeding.
His sentence has been described as 'shocking' by road safety charity Brake, which said Hamilton should have been given a larger fine.
The court heard that Hamilton was arrested at the roadside after failing the breath-test in the early hours of January 25.
The mechanic-turned-barber was filmed reaching a speed of 100mph on a section of the A38(M) Aston Expressway reduced to two lanes and with a 30mph limit in place because of roadworks.
His car was then followed onto the M6 northbound, where he was pulled over and gave a roadside breath test reading of 74mg in 100ml of breath.
The legal limit is 34mg.
Hamilton, who also works as a builder, was not represented by a lawyer but told District Judge Robert Zara that he had since sold his car.
He said he had 'no excuses' to offer the court.
Passing sentence, Mr Zara told Hamilton: "Clearly travelling at that speed in the way that you did, you were putting yourself and others at risk.
"For driving with excess alcohol - you were almost twice the legal limit - in normal circumstances, I would be considering a disqualification for a period of around 20 months or so.
"But because of the excess speed, I am going to impose a disqualification of two years."
Hamilton, whose ban will be reduced by 24 weeks if he completes a driver awareness course, was also fined £665, and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £40.
Brake spokesman Sarah Martin said: "It is shocking to hear of a driver reaching such an excessive speed, and under the influence of alcohol – someone could easily have been killed or seriously injured.
"Drivers who flout the law and endanger lives need to know they will face serious consequences, and Brake strongly believes higher fines are needed to provide an effective deterrent."
