Two kids in car when woman driver stopped

A Whangarei woman caught driving while allegedly almost three-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit had two small children in the car, horrifying police who stopped her.

Sergeant Storm Sandilands, of Whangarei police, said it was a concern that the woman was driving with such a high breath-alcohol level, but it was even more worrying that she had two small children in the car at the time.

Ms Sandilands said the woman was stopped by police on Mt Pleasant Rd, Otaika, about 1.25am yesterday and given a breath test.

The woman had a level of 1374 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, almost three-and-a-half times over the 400mcg limit.

The woman, who was from the Far North, had two small children in the car with her at the time.

The woman, aged 41, had her driving licence automatically suspended for 28 days because of the alleged high breath-alcohol level.

The matter is also likely to be referred to Child Youth and Family service.

The woman was also charged with driving with excess breath alcohol and is likely to appear in Whangarei District Court on the charge this week.

Ms Sandilands said:

"Driving with almost three-and-a-half times the limit is a concern, but having kids in the car is just dangerous and a real worry," she said.

Earlier this month in an unrelated case, a Whangarei mum who drove with two children in the car while more than twice over the legal limit avoided jail.

Georgina Sheila Walters, 30, appeared for sentencing on her third drink-driving charge after she was stopped by police about 4.30pm on August 26, 2012 at Springs' Flat after she was seen swerving within her lane.

Her 9- and 10-year-old children were in the car at the time and next to her was an open can of bourbon and cola. She had a level of 981 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Walters was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and disqualified from holding or obtaining a drivers' licence indefinitely.