Jail for 'stupid' drink driver
He knew it was a stupid mistake to drive after drinking, now a Northland man is serving 11 months in jail for his fifth drinking conviction.
Mahanga Marsh PEIHOPA, 42, appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time after he was stopped by police on Otaika Rd, Whangarei, at 9.30pm on November 24, 2011.
A test showed he had a level of 779 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, almost twice the 400mcg limit.
In explantation to police, Peihopa said it was a stupid mistake to drive again after drinking.
He was sentenced to 11 months' jail and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for his fifth drink-driving conviction.
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's courts recently were:
Phoebe GARDNER-TAUTARI, 54, 477mcg, 120 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months for third drink driving conviction.
Loretta Tracey TAURA-WILSON, 39, 755mcg, $800 fine, disqualified from driving for eight months.
Jason Albert TE PANIA, 37, 516mcg, $450 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Ngawaka PEEHIKURA, 52, 615mcg, $550 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Sheena Jean RENATA, 54, farmer, 589mcg, $500 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Robert Edward PENE, 34, 525mcg, $450 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Ariana TOKI, 19, 830mcg, $500 fine, disqualified from driving for seven months.
David Norton Alexander LUDGATE, 19, student, 309mcg, $225 fine, disqualified from driving for three 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.
