A 29-year-old driver from Erdington ran a red light in Birmingham after smoking cannabis at a party, a court was told.
Daanish Iqbal was seen by police disregarding the traffic signal at Islington Row at around 3am on 14 January. Officers activated their blue lights and sirens, signalling for him to stop.
A roadside drug test detected the presence of cannabis. Further analysis conducted in custody revealed Iqbal had 5.1 micrograms of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol – the active compound in cannabis – in his bloodstream.
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Iqbal pleaded guilty to the offence of driving with a specified controlled drug above the legal limit.
During a hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on 30 July, it emerged that he had been attending a social gathering where friends smoked cannabis.
Defending solicitor Mr Hanif explained: “This is the first time he has appeared before the court. He does not drink and usually refrains from smoking, but on this occasion he did partake socially.”
Mr Hanif also noted that the court proceedings had been a concerning experience for his client, who was “extremely sorry” for his actions.
The magistrate remarked: “Given this is your first offence and you have a previous good character with no prior history, we have been quite lenient.
“You are fortunate in this instance. We will issue a fine and encourage you to treat this as a one-off mistake and move forward.”
Iqbal was fined £400, ordered to pay a £160 surcharge and £85 costs, and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
“We have been quite lenient given this is your first offence and your previous good character. Put it behind you and draw a line under it.”
This case serves as a reminder of the risks and consequences of driving under the influence of drugs.