Mum's 'disturbing' school run'

Beverly Hale, pictured outside Hastings District Court, has admitted driving dangerously. Photo / Paul Taylor

A mother who refused a blood test after police suspected she was driving drunk while dropping her child at school, has pleaded guilty to refusing to give a blood sample and dangerous driving, as well as two mistreatment charges which relate to her children not wearing seatbelts at the time of the offending.

Beverly Hale appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday and after pleading guilty was remanded on bail for sentencing on September 9.

Hale was seen driving erratically along Wall Rd at 9am on May 6. A concerned driver followed the woman to Hastings Central School, where Hale struck a parked car while trying to do a U-turn.

She had just dropped off her child at the school gate when police arrived. Her other child, who was pre-school-aged, was still in the back seat of the car and wasn't restrained.

She was taken to Hastings Police Station, where she was processed for drink-driving and refused to have a blood sample taken.

Police said at the time the incident had left officers "dumbfounded and angry", and it was "particularly disturbing" in light of recent publicity for Road Safety Week, which had a particular focus on Hawke's Bay schools.

The case was referred to Child, Youth and Family (CYF), to decide what course of action to take in regards to the children's care.

A Ministry of Social Development spokesperson said yesterday CYF was "working with this family to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of the children".

Mothers Against Impaired Driving (MAID) spokeswoman Linda Anderson said she hoped Hale's guilty plea signified a desire to change her behaviour.

"You'd hope pleading guilty is a pathway towards making some changes," she said.

"Everyone should be restrained in a vehicle - it's a legal requirement, but it's also a requirement to keep little people safe."

Tukituki MP and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss described Hale's behaviour as "incredibly disappointing and offensive to all law-abiding motorists".

"Every child has the right to be safe on our roads and every parent or caregiver has the responsibility to protect them," he said. "New Zealand has the right legislation in place to effectively deal with this behaviour."

Hastings Central School principal Alan McDonald declined to comment yesterday.