3 months' prison for having beer while driving

A Kerikeri man's decision to literally drink and drive left him serving three months' jail after police saw him behind the wheel with a bottle of beer in hand.
Terence Kaka JOHNNIE, 47, groundsman, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court earlier this month for sentencing on his seventh drink driving charge.
The police summary of facts to the court said Johnnie was driving a Nissan ute on Hone Heke Rd, Kerikeri, about 8.15pm on February 25 this year when he approached a police compulsory breath-testing stop.
Police saw him drinking from a bottle of beer when stopped and he was incoherent when spoken to.
A test revealed a level of 780 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, almost twice the legal limit of 400mcg for motorists aged 20 and above.
In explanation Johnnie told police he had been drinking beer with a friend to celebrate his forthcoming move away from the area. He said he had drunk 12 bottles of beer before driving.
Johnnie was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Northland has the highest rate of recidivist drink-drivers in the country and the Northern Advocate is publishing its "name and shame" list of people convicted.
Also sentenced recently were:
Joseph CATES, 22, 754mcg, three months' home detention and disqualified from driving for 14 months for third drink-driving conviction. And 568mcg, three months' home detention and disqualified from driving indefinitely for his fourth drink-driving conviction.
Troy SLACK, 34, labourer, 623mcg, seven months' home detention, disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Michael O'LEARY, 34, 204 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood - almost three times the 80mg limit - seven months' home detention, disqualified from driving for three years, for fourth drink-driving conviction.
Paul Anthony CALLANDER, 18, 347mcg, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for three months.
Jamie Phillip CALLANDER, 25, operator/setter, 140mg, $1000 fine, $173 medical fees, $130 courts costs, disqualified from driving for nine months.
Cyrus Poto COOPER, 17, 337mgs, 50 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for six months.
Zion Tobias Jabbar SAUNDERS, 26, 107mcg, $650 fine, $173 medical fees, $130 courts costs, disqualified from driving for six months.
Kirk Ngapo Levi CRITCHFIELD, 19, 186mg, 100 hours' community work, $173 medical costs, disqualified from driving for nine months.
Legal limits: Aged 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: 150mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 30mg of alcohol per 100ml.