'Most sober' given warning
A Whangarei man who was the "most sober" person to drive out of five in the car has been given home detention and a final warning for his fifth drink-driving conviction.
Lance Heremaia BAKER, 42, appeared in Whangarei District Court for sentence on a charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol for a third or subsequent time after he was stopped in Riverside Dr, at 1.09am on December 23, 2011.
A test showed Baker had a level of 5654 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and over is 400mcg.
The police summary of facts said Baker was co-operative during the breath-testing procedure and in explanation stated he was the most sober person of the five in the car.
He was sentenced to eight months' home detention, given a final warning, and disqualified from driving for 12 months 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:
Theresa Marie CROSS, 41, 667mcg, five months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving indefinitely for fourth drink-driving conviction.
Veronica Jan WILLIAMS, 51, 789mcg, four months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for fifth drink-driving conviction.
John WITEHIRA, 51, 575mcg, six months' community detention, 150 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for sixth-drink driving conviction.
Wayne Russell David BRUCE, 57, beneficiary, 726mcg, $600 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Raymond William COWLES, 37, baker, 512mcg, $450 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Rehurangi Taniora TAUROA, 19, 151 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, $750 fine, disqualified from driving for six 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.
