Derek Forsyth: Slacks Creek business owner, 37, busted driving under the influence

A Slacks Creek business owner caught driving erratically on the M5 with 11 prescription drugs in his system says the experience has been eye opening, a court has heard.

A Slacks Creek business owner caught driving erratically on the M5 with 11 prescription drugs in his system says the experience has been eye opening, a court has heard.

Derek Forsyth, 37, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday to driving under the influence of liquor or a drug.

The court heard police received information of dangerous driving and intercepted a vehicle Forsyth was driving for a random breath test and licence check along Wembley Rd, Logan Central about 4.20pm on July 26.

Derek Forsyth leaving Beenleigh courthouse.

The informant had advised police that he observed Forsyth driving all over the road, hitting the side barriers and narrowly missing other motorists along Centenary Hwy and then along the Logan Mwy before taking the Wembley Rd exit.

Police observed the man had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet.

They conducted a roadside breath test which returned a negative result.

Police asked Forsyth about his erratic driving and he initially denied but later admitted he hit something on the side of the road.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Donna Cole said he told police he had taken some prescribed medication but failed to say how much he’d consumed.

“A search of his bag revealed that the defendant has been seeing different doctors to meet his drug habit,” she said.

“He was arrested and conveyed to Logan hospital where a sample of blood was taken.”

The test identified 11 drugs in his system including Lorazepam, Dextromethorphan and Tramadol.

Forsyth, who represented himself in court, said he operated his own business and this incident had “really impacted” it.

“I do take the prescribed medications for a reason but I was wrong that day to get on the road,” he said.

“It’s been an eye opener.”

He was disqualified from driving for six months.