Andrew Raymond Murray was more than three times the legal blood alcohol limit for a fully licensed driver when police pulled over his car in Albury on June 20.

“I’ll take the blame for it officers,” he said.

But magistrate Tony Murray told him in Albury Local Court on Tuesday it could have been worse.

Mr Murray said all too often such incidents ended with a serious car crash.

The defendant, 18, of Garoogong Road, Springdale Heights, pleaded guilty to driving with a high range prescribed concentration of alcohol, not stopping for a red arrow at traffic lights and not displaying L-plates.

He was fined $1900 and banned from holding a learner’s permit for nine months.

Police saw a Mazda 626 being driven by Murray in Kiewa Street, then go against a red arrow into Swift Street.

Police noticed his eyes were watery and bloodshot and so asked if he had been drinking.

“Yes, I’ve had a few beers,” he said.

His blood alcohol content was .160.