Drunk ran red light causing crash

A Whangarei repeat drink driver who crashed her vehicle into another after running a red light was almost double the legal alcohol limit.

Anna Maria HEREWINI, 39, unemployed, has appeared in Whangarei District Court for sentencing on charges of driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time and careless driving.

Police said Herewini was driving on Kamo Rd at 9.30pm on October 3, last year, when she ran a red light while turning into Western Hills Dr and collided with another vehicle. A test showed she had a level of 759 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, almost double the 400mcg limit.

In explanation Herewini told police she had been drinking earlier in the evening, but had stopped about 90 minutes earlier and was driving so she could get dinner for her family.

She was sentenced to four months' community detention, 100 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision and disqualified from driving for 18 months for her third drink driving conviction.

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 were:

Jason Kaine CLEMENTS, 27, roofer, 539mcg, six months' home detention, disqualified from driving for 15 months for fourth drink driving conviction.

Jason PEHI, 24, forestry worker, 451mcg, community work and disqualified from driving for six months.

Jade GOULDING, 18, 481mcg, $450 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Mark FRANKLIN, 54, 815mcg, $800 fine, disqualified from driving for six months.

Karla Jennifer PAREKURA, 39, unemployed, 455mcg, 80 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Whanupani Barney PARATA, 64, 613mcg, $600 fine, 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: A blood alcohol limit of between 0.00 and 0.03 will receive an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. Higherlevels means being charged as adults.