THE Nadi Court has warned it will deal strongly with drivers charged with traffic offences.

Magistrate Syed Mukhtar Shah said drivers at the Inter District Championship in Ba who planned to go through Nadi would end up in jail if caught drinking and driving or driving without a licence.

He made the comment while jailing a driver for four months after he pleaded guilty to drink driving, dangerous driving, driving without a license and driving a vehicle without third party cover.

Mr Shah said all drivers who were convicted of such offences before him would not be shown any mercy and would end up in prison.

He expressed concern over the alarming road death toll, including those caused by drivers who were drunk or unlicensed.

He said the only way to help in the road safety campaign was for the court to be strict on drivers.

Mr Shah said from his observations, most drivers continued to break road rules despite stern warnings from the police and the courts.

He said thousands of motorists were using the main roads over the long weekend and must abide by road rules.

Mr Shah made the comment while sentencing Amit Kumar, 27, of Viseisei in Lautoka to four months in jail.

The court heard that at 10pm on October 4, Kumar lost control of the taxi he was driving in Korovuto under the influence of liquor. This caused the taxi to smash into another vehicle.

The court heard that Kumar, who was recently deported from New Zealand, tried to run away from police but was too drunk to do so. Kumar did not want to have a lawyer and pleaded guilty to the offences.

Kumar who had five previous convictions said he stole a taxi from Nawaicoba because he wanted to go home.

He told the court that he could not explain how the accident happened as he was too drunk.

Mr Shah disqualified Kumar from obtaining a driving licence for two years.

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