Eight schoolchildren were on a bus whose driver returned a breath test more than double the legal limit yesterday, Whangarei police said.
The male driver was stopped in the Whangarei district about 2pm yesterday, Whangarei police Senior Sergeant Peter Stokes said .
A breath test revealed he had an alcohol level of
839mcg per litre of breath -- more than double the legal limit of 400mcg for drivers 20 and over, Mr Stokes said.
The man, aged in his 60s, was taken to the Whangarei police station for further tests and later charged with drink-driving.
First time drink-drive offenders face a maximum fine of $4500 or a three month jail sentence and are automatically disqualified from driving for a minimum of six months.
The bus company owner, who was called by police to finish the bus run, understood the driver had not travelled far when stopped by police. The company would also investigate the matter.
A Land Transport Safety Authority spokesman said it was LTSA policy to suspend a driver's passenger licence on confirmation from police of the charge.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
