Tautari told police that he knew he'd be over the limit as he had had about 12 bottles of beer. A Far North repeat drink-driver knew he'd be over the limit after knocking back about 12 bottles of beer, but that didn't stop him getting behind the wheel and heading home.
Kayah Carlos Zion TAUTARI, 21, appeared in Kaikohe District Court for sentencing on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time after he was stopped in York St, Russell, at 9.35pm on July 7.
When spoken to by police, Tautari exhibited signs of recent alcohol consumption and a test revealed a level of 704 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for motorists aged over 20 is 400mcg.
In explanation, Tautari told police that he knew he'd be over the limit as he had about 12 bottles of beer before driving from Russell to Okaihau.
He was sentenced to 100 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision and disqualified from driving for 12 months for a third 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:
Andrea Mary KAHIA, 39, 496mcg, $550 fine, $132 court costs, disqualified from driving for seven months for third drink-driving conviction.
Alissa Salilo GOODING, 25, 1006mcg, $110 fine, $132 costs, six months' supervision, disqualified from driving for eight months.
Bruce Wayne MORRISSEY, 61, traffic controller, 440mcg, $500 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.
Kelly Jason CRUIKSHANK, 25, pump technician, 878mcg, 175 hours' community work, six months' supervision, disqualified from driving for eight months.
Romana Ann MAKARA, 37, unemployed, 587mcg, 40 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.
Stevie-Ray RAMAGE, 20, 467mcg, 60 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.
Joseph WHAREWAKA, 44, 553mcg, $500 fine, $132 costs, 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: 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 be subject to the same drink-drive penalties as adults.