Drug-driver struggled to smoke cigarette

A New Plymouth man, who yesterday became one of the first to be convicted under new drugged-driving laws, was caught after people saw him repeatedly missing his mouth while trying to smoke a cigarette.

Aaron Jay South, 31, pleaded guilty in New Plymouth District Court to driving while impaired under section 57 of the Land Transport Act following an incident on February 10, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

People who saw South stopped at an intersection reported that he appeared either drunk or drugged as he tried to smoke a cigarette and kept missing his mouth.

Several people contacted police after they saw him drive off and veer in and out of his lane.

Police who pulled him over found signs of impairment and a check for alcohol came up negative.

He then failed to complete a compulsory impairment test and a blood test showed he was under the influence of cannabis.

South, who has previously been convicted of drink-driving twice, told police he was on the methadone programme and had taken his daily dose before driving, and admitted to taking cannabis and clonazepam.

He was remanded to reappear for sentence on June 11.

- NZPA