Cleared by publican, repeat drink-driver claims

A Far North man who claimed a publican told him he'd be okay to drive after drinking has been disqualified from driving for his fifth drink-driving conviction.

Mac Makeare ANANIA, 63, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court for sentencing on a charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol for a third or subsequent time after he was stopped by police on State Highway One, Kawakawa, at 7.58pm on April 13. Anania was stopped at an alcohol checkpoint and as he exhibited signs of alcohol consumption was given a breath test, then later a blood test, which found he had a level of 101 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

A police summary said he had told officers he had stopped at a tavern for a drink and when he was leaving the publican had said he would be okay to drive.

Anania was sentenced to 400 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for his fifth drink-driving conviction.

Northland has some of the highest rates of drink-driving in the country, and the Northern Advocate publishes a "name and shame" list of people convicted of drink-driving in the region.

Also sentenced in Northland courts recently were:

Nicholas Bryan RADOVANOVICH, 20, 623 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, 120 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for nine months.

Michael HARRIS, 26, 599mcg, $750 fine, $132 court costs, disqualified from driving for seven months.

Christopher Troy JUDSON, 37, builder, 528mcg, $500 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Nicole Helen MORTON, 46, 455mcg, $500 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Benjamin Joseph HOEBERECHTS, 19, 152mg, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Dale Margaret TWEEDIE, 62, 770mcg, $500 fine, $132 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

Inoke TUAIMEIAPI, 41, 523mcg, $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: young drivers with a blood-alcohol level up to 0.03 will incur an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. Young drivers with a blood-alcohol limit over that will continue to be subject to the same drink-drive penalties as adults.