Crash driver over limit

A Kaitaia teenager has sentenced to community work, supervision and disqualified from driving for having an alcohol level more than three times the adult limit.

Calvin Teremona THOMAS, 19, forestry worker, appeared for sentencing in Kaitaia District Court on charge of driving with excess breath alcohol after crashing on State Highway 1 near the town, at 9.30pm last October 13.

The police summary of facts to the court said Thomas was driving at about 70km/h on a straight section of SH1 when he lost control and drove into a drain on the left hand side of the road.

When police arrived Thomas exhibited signs of recent alcohol consumption and a test showed he had a level of 1255 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. There is a zero alcohol limit for motorists aged under 20 while the adult limit is 400mcg.

In explanation he told police he had been drinking earlier that night and wanted to go for a drive.

Thomas was sentenced to 175 hours' community work, eight months' supervision and disqualified from driving for eight months.

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:

Michelle Denise ADLINGTON, 54, 486mcg, $3590 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Natalie Jayde SCHOONDERWOERD-SEARLEY, 18, 392mcg, $300 fine, disqualified from driving for three months.

Christal TAHITAHI, 28, 441mcg, $400 fine, disqualified from driving for seven months.

Sam Wairua WALKER-COOPER, 19, 253mcg, $200 fine, disqualified from driving for three months.

Wendy RAMEKA, 46, 454mcg, $400 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Rick Vincent BROUGHTON, 55, project manager, 607mcg, $550 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Edward Benjamin CURRIE, 25, 175 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 80 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months for third drink driving conviction.

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 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.