Repeat offender jailed
A Mangonui man has been jailed for his 11th drink-driving conviction and 18th for driving while disqualified.
Edward Ihaia MATTHEWS, 49, appeared for sentencing in the Kaitaia District Court on charges of driving with an excess breath-alcohol level for a third or subsequent time and driving while disqualified for a third or subsequent time.
Matthews was stopped by police on State Highway 10 at Taipa at 12.35am on April 28 last year. A test showed he had a level of 506 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, with the legal limit 400mcg.
Police inquiries also discovered that he was disqualified and in explanation Matthews said "I wasn't expecting you guys to be here."
He was sentenced to 11 months' jail and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for his 11th drink-driving conviction and 18th for disqualified driving.
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 for drink-driving in Northland recently were:
Sheraleen RIHARI, 38, 754mcg, two months' community detention, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for third drink-driving conviction.
Jordan Joseph Raymond, HOLSTER, 19, 703mcg, $700 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Robert Walter Noel DAVIS, 19, 449mcg, $500 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Hayden John MANSON, 21, 610mcg, $600 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.
Aaron John FLETCHER, 29, caregiver, 552mcg, 60 hours; community work, disqualified from driving for six months.
Natima Gene BROWN, 28, manager, 116mg, 150 hours' community work, 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. Young drivers over that will continue to be subject to the same drink-drive penalties as adults.
