A magistrate scolded a woman who admitted to drinking three beers before getting behind the wheels of her car. Mother of two, Crystal Thomas, was asked whether she thought of her children before jumping in her car. Thomas stood silently before magistrate Rehanna Hosein in the San Fernando Traffic Court, on Monday, charged with driving while over the legal limited of alcohol consumption on Sunday.
Thomas was held in a police roadblock at the Tarouba Overpass, along the Solomon Hochoy Highway, after attending Calypso Fiesta at Skinner Park, San Fernando. After police told her they had detected a strong smell of alcohol on her breath, she told them she had drunk three beers 30 minutes before driving. Given breathalyser tests, she gave readings of 57 and 58 microgrammes per 100 millilitre. The legal limit if 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitre.
Hosein appeared to be annoyed after learning that Thomas had two children. “What would have happened to them if something had happened to you? Did you not think of that?” Hosein asked. For most of the hearing Thomas remained quiet while Hosein spoke to her. She was fined $2,500 and told if she failed to pay, she would be imprisoned for nine months’ hard labour.