Teen Jonty Parkes caught drink-driving in Queenstown after moving car 10m to avoid car-parking fine

Jonty Parkes was caught driving with excess breath alcohol when he was pulled over by police in April.

Jonty Parkes was celebrating his 18th birthday in Queenstown when he realised his car was in a 30-minute park.

A quick decision to move it to a long-term spot overnight would prove costly.

Parkes was stopped by police and breath-tested after making it just 10m down the road.

He failed, blowing 864 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, and was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.

After his birthday trip in April, Parkes, of Te Awamutu, spent more than $3000 on flights and accommodation to return to Queenstown to appear in the district court and face the charge.

Jonty Parkes was celebrating his birthday in Queenstown when he was caught drink driving. Photo / Getty Images

This week, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Community Magistrate Elder Robati.

At the hearing, Robati referred to the summary of facts, which stated Parkes was stopped by police just before 1.30am on April 10.

While the breath test revealed he was more than three times the adult legal limit, because Parkes was under 20, he was subject to a zero alcohol limit.

“You stated it was your birthday and you did not think you’d blow this high,” Robati said.

Defence lawyer Megan Waller told the court that Parkes had been visiting his girlfriend in Queenstown.

While celebrating his birthday, he had been trying to avoid a fine when he moved his Mazda.

Waller said Parkes has had to fork out thousands to return to the area to appear in court.

He was then fined $700 and disqualified from driving for 28 days.

He would then need to apply for an interlock device for 12 months, and a zero alcohol licence for three years would follow.

Brianna McIlraith is a Queenstown-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the lower South Island. She has been a journalist since 2018 and has had a strong interest in business and financial journalism.