Drunk Drivers: Driver blames 'stupid' passengers

A Far North man who drove because his passengers "were getting stupid" has been jailed for his third drink-driving conviction.

Heremaia Mikaera TOPIA, 36, appeared for sentencing in the Kaitaia District Court on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time after he was stopped in the town at 1.15am on July 30, 2010.

Topia admitted that he had been drinking when stopped by police and he was found to have a level of 513 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

In explanation he said the others in the car "were getting stupid so I said I would drive."

Topia was jailed for one month and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for his third drink-driving conviction.

Northland has the highest rate of recidivist drink-drivers in the country 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:

Karl Phillip NEWSON, 24, 555mcg, 200 hours' community work, nine months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for third drink driving conviction.

Ayla Melissa RICHMOND, 20, 679mcg, $500 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Tyrone James HARRIS, 24, furniture remover, 703mcg, $550 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Nalyse HAPETA, 21, 634mcg, 60 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Jason Dion Koroi NGAWHAU, 33, 841mcg, 80 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Thomas GARDINER, 44, 525mcg, $400 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Luke MUTU, 18, 584mcg, $200 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Samphire Lewis DE KIRKBRIDGE, 17, 289mcg, $200 fine, disqualified from driving for three months.

Marie Wairere THOMAS, 26, 843mcg, 80 hours; community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Sathis Nanada KUMARAN, 212, fruit picker, 831mcg, $300 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Jake DIAMOND, 20, student, 1049mcg, $850 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Matthew James HALLBERG, 37, 112 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, $550 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Legal limits: Aged 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: Until August 7, it was 150mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 30mg of alcohol per 100ml. From August 7, it's zero tolerance. Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit of between 0.00 and 0.03 (the legal limit for under 20-year-olds until August 7, 2011) will receive an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points.