Jail for driver caught while fetching mates
Being caught drink driving twice within a month, the first when picking up his partner and then fetching drunken mates, has earned a Kaikohe man nine months in jail for his fifth and sixth convictions.
Kenneth Alexander PAUL, 27, appeared in Kaikohe District Court for sentencing on two charges of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time.
The police summary said Paul was first stopped in Taheke Rd, Kaikohe, at 9.16am on January 1 after police saw him driving at 122km/h in the 100km/h zone.
He was given a speeding infringement notice. A breath test showed he had 492 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg for motorists aged 20 and above. In explanation he told police he was going to pick up his partner.
Paul was stopped on Guerin St, Kaikohe, at 9.02pm on January 28 and as he smelt strongly of alcohol was given a breath test, which showed he had a level of 849 mcg.
In explanation Paul told police he was picking up his drunk mates. He was sentenced to nine months' jail and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for his fifth and sixth drink-driving convictions.
Northland has some of the highest rates of drink driving in the country, particularly repeat offenders, 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 courts recently were:
Jean Mahara LATIMER, 25, 987mcg, six months' home detention, disqualified from driving indefinitely for fourth drink-driving conviction.
Dennis Fred George POA, 41, 612mcg, $600 fine, disqualified from driving for seven months.
Zane Russell MORRIS-STEWART, 18, unemployed, 223mcg, $175 fine, disqualified from driving for three months.
Richard Teddy HIROKI, 47, 165 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 250 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for third drink-driving conviction.
Jonathan Laurence Scott GRANT, 21, unemployed, 114mg, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for seven months.
Liquor limits: Aged 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit of between 0.00 and 0.03 will receive an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit over that will continue to be subject to the same drink drive penalties as adults.
