TV3 journalist Darren McDonald has been fined $700 and disqualified from driving for six months after pleading guilty to a drink driving charge.
The former newsreader was caught at a police checkpoint in Ponsonby on February 10 with a breath-alcohol level of 742 micrograms, nearly twice the legal limit.
McDonald had earlier
denied the offence but his lawyer John Clearwater advised Judge John Strettel of a change in plea at the Auckland District Court yesterday.
Mr Clearwater said McDonald had made an error of judgement after 15 years of incident free driving.
McDonald always took care about the amount of alcohol he consumed before driving but in this instance miscalculated, mainly because he had not had a meal, Mr Clearwater said.
He said after TV3 learned of the charge McDonald was demoted from the position he enjoyed and his annual salary was reduced by about $10,000.
