Alcohol system

Who pays for the new alcohol interlock system that has been introduced to the courts?

Costs are as follows: licence fee application $200, installation fee $150-175, monthly rental fee (minimum 12 months) $1800-2000.

How many offenders ordered to receive this would be able to afford this?

DEREK WESTON

Blenheim

The alcohol interlock system is administered by the New Zealand Transport Authority. Spokesman Andrew Knackstedt responds:

Offenders who have been convicted of repeat drink-driving offences or of an excessively high blood or breath alcohol concentration and who have been given an alcohol interlock sentence are eligible for the programme. Offenders pay the costs for interlocks.

It is up to the courts to decide if an alcohol interlock sentence is appropriate. Certain circumstances, such as financial instability or the offender being unlicensed, could mean that the interlock programme may not be suitable.

Not to blame

The article "Bar ruined by punter's death" [Express, October 16] raises some concern as to the attributing of blame in the death of Matthew Heagney.

He did not deserve to die, but did so.

It was not the fault of the building, the business or Mr Campbell or his family.

There were two players in the drama - Matthew Heagney and the offender, Kevin King.

If the facts of the incident are looked at objectively they reveal the incident occurred due to the action of the victim, who chose to enter the premises after being forbidden to do so.

The offender, legally entitled to remove the victim from the premises, appears to have been careless in the manner he did this.

To lay the blame at the feet of the owner, co-owner at the time of the incident, and his family is terribly wrong, as is the wish for the destruction of the building. Neither have any blame to bear.

RALPH GILLESPIE

Blenheim

Living it up

Shame on you? Really.

What does your correspondent think should be done with these reprobates? Strung up by their g-strings and paraded through the town for a stoning?

The Glitz and Glamour Ball could possibly be renamed "Bits that Enamour", maybe. Good on you ladies for getting up and showing how to live and celebrating life, instead of sitting like some dour dowager.

I know that one of these ladies has dealt with the living, the dying and the dead for a number of years, so she gets out and lets her hair down, her skirt up for a hoot and has a great time with another colleague.

Could've been worse.

You're a bloody legend. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.

FLETCHER KYDD

Spring Creek

- The Marlborough Express