Believing his friend could be over the alcohol limit after a party the previous night, Ahmad Awad offered to drive home the following morning.
But when police stopped the 27-year-old, during a routine check, he was almost twice the legal limit.
Awad of Hillend Drive, Hawick, was fined £500 and banned from driving for 12 months.
He was fined £400 after he admitted driving a car on the A7 Galashiels to Selkirk road, at Lindean, on September 9, with a breath/alcohol reading of 60 mcgs – the legal limit is 35.
Awad was fined a further £100 when he admitted driving without insurance. The provisional licence holder was admonished for not displaying “L” plates.
Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley said police had been on mobile patrol in a marked car at the Kingsknowes roundabout when they noted a silver car, which they signaled to stop a short distance after as part of a routine check.
“The vehicle mounted the kerb as it pulled up and as police approached they saw the passenger get out and the accused slide over to the passenger seat,” said Ms Bradley.
She revealed: “They could smell alcohol on his breath and he gave a positive roadside test.
“A check on the national computer revealed that he only had a provisional driving licence.”
Defence solicitor Matt Patrick said his client had been at a party in Galashiels the night before.
He told the court: “Ironically, he had offered to drive, as he felt his friend, who owned the car, had had too much to drink to drive. He was weeks away from obtaining a full licence and was stopped as he was driving back to Hawick.”