Taxi driver caught over the limit with passengers on board

The driver was stopped by police at the Newton Rd onramp earlier this evening.

A taxi driver will be fined for drink driving after being caught by police with three passengers in his cab heading for the Northwestern Motorway.

The driver was stopped by police at the Newton Rd onramp earlier this evening.

A police spokesman said he had three passengers in his taxi and was about to drive onto the motorway.

His breath alcohol reading was 286 micrograms per litre. On 1 December 2014 a new lower drink driving limit was introduced in New Zealand.

The limit is 250mcg/l.

"He wasn't rolling drunk but he was over the limit," the spokesman said.

Under the new lower limit, the driver will be given a $200 infringement fee ad 50 demerit points. He will not face court or a conviction.

The officers who pulled the taxi driver over gave his passengers a ride home.

For more information on the drink driving limits and consequences, visit http://www.transport.govt.nz/land/bloodalcoholqanda/