A rural pub could rue its decision to let a man drive after he was found to be two-and-a-half times over the alcohol limit.
Rotorua police pulled over a driver on State Highway 5 on Sunday after reports of dangerous driving. He was found to have a breath alcohol reading of 1078 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400.
The man had been drinking at a rural pub.
"There's new legislation where police can issue infringements for alcohol," Rotorua police road policing manager Senior Sergeant Brendon Keenan said.
"We will be going back to them. Some licensees consistently mentioned will be put in the spotlight and different conditions can be put on them - such as earlier closing times."
Mr Keenan said the man had been spotted by the Search and Rescue team.
"He had passed eight cars on yellow lines. Crazy. It was an accident waiting to happen.
"The man was from Turangi but had been drinking at a rural pub.
"The onus is on the establishment to provide an option for transport.
"People who drink an awful lot can tolerate a lot but ... you can't keep serving intoxicated people."