A MAN booked for drink-driving more than nine hours after downing his last beverage has been urged to consider the incident a warning.
Simon Benjamin Carr, 26, of Portland's Valmai Avenue, pleaded guilty to exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol and speeding.
He was driving a Suzuki sedan when stopped by police on New Street about 9.10am on August 22 last year.
Carr, whose blood-alcohol concentration was .051, told officers he had consumed 15 drinks while with a friend the previous night but thought it would be safe to drive.
The Portland Magistrates Court heard he was also detected travelling at 91km/h in an 80km/h zone.
Defence counsel Vanessa Focken said her client, a plumber, was working to overcome a problem with alcohol.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt convicted Carr, fining him a total of $1000 and disqualifying him from driving for 12 months.
"You were only just over the legal limit, but it is a very clear warning to you that even the morning after the night before you can't be sure of your blood-alcohol level unless you test it," Magistrate Klestadt said.