Drink driver commended by judge

A woman with the dubious record of blowing one of the highest breath-alcohol levels in Taranaki has been congratulated for beating the demon drink.

On August 30, Karen Gwenda Haw, 32, ploughed her car into the back of another car stopped at a New Plymouth police checkpoint.

She was found to have a breath alcohol reading of 1786mg of alcohol per litre of breath, more than four times the legal limit of 400mg. In the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, Judge Allan Roberts said Haw's alcohol level would be one of the highest he had seen during his tenure on the bench in Taranaki.

In the past 10 years, Haw had been caught with levels of 1338mg, 1615mg, 1215mg and 806mg, the judge said.

She had attended the Bridge programme, a tough residential drug and alcohol rehabilitative programme, and had stayed dry for seven months, Judge Roberts said.

"It seems that your application to that programme was commendable," he said.

Haw had earlier pleaded guilty to drink-driving, disqualified driving and careless use of a vehicle.

She was sentenced to four months' home detention at her mother's home, ordered to pay reparation of $3436.31 at $20 a week, disqualified from driving for 18 months, and ordered to attend alcohol and drug counselling.

Her fines of $950 were remitted. Her car was confiscated.

- © Fairfax NZ News