Brandies bring trouble for recidivist | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Having a couple of medicinal brandies caused more problems than they solved for a repeat Northland drink-driver - she's now doing community work for her third drink-driving conviction.

Penelope Joanne DONALDSON, 55, appeared in the Dargaville District Court on a charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol for a third or subsequent time after being stopped in the town last year.

Several people had called the police to say Donaldson was smelling heavily of alcohol while inside a fast-food outlet in the town.

Police had carried out a test that showed she had a level of 666 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The legal adult limit is 400mcg.

In explanation, Donaldson told officers that she was sick and had a couple of brandies to help her out before driving.

She was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and six months' community detention.

She was also disqualified from driving for 12 months for her third drink-driving conviction.

Northland has the highest rate of recidivist drink-drivers in the country and the Northern Advocate is publishing its "name and shame" list of all people convicted of drink-driving offences in the region.

Also sentenced in Northland's courts recently were:

Kay Lynette POPPEN, 49, caregiver, 883mcg, 250 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, final warning, disqualified from driving for 12 months and vehicle confiscated for third drink-driving conviction.

Rex Carl LITTIN, 35, 572mcg, $500 fine, $132 court costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Nathan Paapu WILLIAMS, 18, student, 665mcg, 40 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Melody Renee HEI HEI, 29, 505mcg, 60 hours; community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Phillip Rex HORSFALL, 923mcg, $850 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Jonathan Douglas RAINES, 23, 653mcg, $550 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Darren Joshua PALMER, 42, 675mcg, $600 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Andrea Janice JENKINS, 27, mother, 646mcg, $750 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Myles Tip TONG, 142 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, $700 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Legal limits - Aged 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: Until August 7, it was 150mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 30mg of alcohol per 100ml. From August 7, it's zero tolerance. Young drivers with a blood-alcohol level of between 0.00 and 0.03mg (the legal limit for under 20-year-olds until August 7, 2011) will incur an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. Young drivers with a blood-alcohol level over that will continue to be subject to the same drink-drive penalties as adults.