A MAN appeared Warrington Magistrates’ Court under – what was at the time – the first case of the new Road Safety Act which introduced the breathalyser test.

It was a month before the court date in November 1867 that the man drove a car along Arpley Street, Wilson Patten Street and Liverpool Road, under the influence of alcohol.

He was spotted by an inspector in the area, who saw him leaving a restaurant with another man, seemingly drunk, and getting in a car.

He pleaded guilty in court to the charge, so was fined £25 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

A breath test and a blood sample were taken from the defendant, which both showed positive results for alcohol.

The chairman told him in court: “Despite what has been said about this being the first case, we are not treating you any differently.”

It was also said in court that despite the alcohol, the man’s driving was ‘quite good’ and he showed no outward signs for the influence of drink.