Sleeping driver arrested in Whangarei

An Auckland motorist was surprised to find he was in Whangarei when he had been heading to Rawhiti, about 77km north.

But it wasn't that big a surprise for police as they'd found him asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle with the engine running and well above the legal alcohol limit in the early hours of the morning.

Acting Sergeant Jeremy Weston, of Whangarei police, said the man, aged 28, was found asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle, with the engine still running, in the Maunu Vet carpark on Maunu Rd, at 3.30am yesterday.

A test showed the man had a level of 828 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, more than twice the 400mcg legal limit.

Mr Weston said the man was confused and surprised to find he was in Whangarei as he thought he was in Rawhiti.

The man was arrested and charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.