Woman told to get licence

A woman who was caught drink-driving with two children in the car didn't have a licence at the time.

Amanda Fairs was found to have 511mcg of alcohol on her breath on December 30, police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Butler said on Tuesday.

The legal limit is 250mcg.

Mr Butler told the Whanganui District Court there were two children and one adult passenger in the car, and Fairs had never had a licence.

"Ms Fairs, as a mother of two and aged 39, it's high time you took steps to get a driver's licence," Judge David Cameron told her.

Fairs pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol.

Defence lawyer Harete Hipango said Fairs "really did consider herself sufficiently sober".

"Otherwise she wouldn't have put the two children in the car and drove," Ms Hipango said.

She said Fairs "regrets that the decision she made hasn't only put her in this position, but it's compromised her children as well, in terms of safety".

Judge Cameron fined Fairs $500, $130 court costs, and disqualified her from having a driver's licence for six months.