Drunk driver caught 14 times

By ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
A Rotorua man caught driving drunk for the 14th time has been sentenced to a year in jail - despite his lawyer's plea that it will not have any effect.

The man's behaviour has been described as "completely selfish" by the Bay of Plenty's road policing manager, Inspector Kevin Taylor.

The Rotorua District Court heard yesterday that Joseph Deon Tait, a 37-year-old forestry worker, grew up in an "alcohol-besotted culture" and had been drinking since he was 13.

His lawyer, Peter Birks, argued that Mr Tait had already gone to jail several times and a further term was not likely to have any effect.

Mr Birks said his client appeared to be using alcohol to deal with his depression, following the death of his partner and their child early last year.

He doubted whether another jail term would help and argued that a residential programme should be considered so the causes of his alcoholism could be addressed.

However, Judge Greg Hikaka said he had no alternative but to send Mr Tait to jail. He also disqualified him from driving indefinitely.

It was the only way to keep the community safe, at least for a short time, he said.

"Your slow learning should not be at the risk of the community."

Mr Tait received his first driving conviction in 1984.

Since then, he has clocked up 14 convictions for drink driving and 17 for driving while disqualified. In the latest incidents, in August and December last year, he was caught driving with double the legal alcohol limit.

On both occasions he was not supposed to be driving.

Outside the court, Inspector Taylor said repeat drink drivers posed an unacceptable risk to other road users.

"They show an utter disregard for not only the law, but for all other road users. It's completely selfish behaviour."

Rotorua's road safety co-ordinator, Cedric Rogers of the Drivewise Trust, said he was surprised people were still continuing to clock up huge numbers of drink-driving convictions, given the anti-drink-driving campaign which had been pushed for 12 years.

However, Mr Rogers said Mr Tait was not the worst offender.

He knew of someone with 23 convictions.

Drivewise re-introduced a programme for repeat drink-driving offenders this year.

The programme ran in the 1990s and had a 83 percent success rate.

Mr Rogers said the worst offenders these days were men in their late 20s and early 30s.

Many associated alcohol with fun, relaxation and good times and could not see the negative effects or the consequences for themselves and others. "They live in an environment where drinking heavily is the norm."

Many men were drinking at home, making it difficult to control their alcohol intake. Some were beyond help, unless they decided to change themselves, he said.