Fifteen-year-old unlicensed drink driver caught

A 15-year-old unlicensed driver was among a dozen drink-drivers caught throughout North Canterbury between Thursday and Sunday in what police say is an unusual spike in offending.

Apart from not having a driver's licence, the teenage girl should have recorded a zero alcohol level for drivers under 20 that came into force last August.

Sergeant Rene Pabst of Rangiora police said the local girl was pulled over at 12.45am on Saturday and recorded a breath alcohol level of 186mcg/l. She was referred to police youth aid and forbidden to drive.