Drink-driver guilty on evidence of witness alone

A Montpellier student was given a six-month ban and a €500 fine after he hit a stationary car.

The conviction was based on the words of a witness who said he looked ‘wobbly on his feet’ and his lawyer said this is contrary to the usual need for proof such as a breathalyser reading.

The limit is 0.5mg of alcohol/litre of blood (about one glass of wine), or 0.2mg for new drivers, as opposed to 0.8mg in the UK (0.5mg in Scotland). Penalties include a fine of at least €135, losing six licence points and possible three-year ban with more severe penalties for levels above 0.8mg.