Three motorists call to report suspicious driver

Police caught a man driving with breath at five times the legal alcohol limit.

A driver with allegedly more than five times the legal alcohol limit in his blood was caught by police half way through his trip from Auckland to Kaitaia.

Sergeant Craig Burrows of Whangarei police said the Auckland man allegedly blew 1300 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath- more than five times the legal limit of 250mcg- about midnight on Saturday.

He said police had received three complaints from concerned motorists about the man's erratic driving between Auckland and Whangarei.

Officers caught up with him changing a flat tyre on Great North Rd in Kamo and took him to the Whangarei Police Station for breath testing procedures.

"His intention was to drive from Auckland to Kaitaia and I am surprised he made it so far," Mr Burrows said.

"He had done all his drinking in Auckland and could have easily crossed the centre line and smashed into an oncoming vehicle and killed someone."

The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and over fell from 400mcg to 250mcg on December 1 last year. Those with readings of between 251mcg and 400mcg are fined.

Mr Burrows said the driver has been bailed to appear in the Whangarei District Court on Wednesday.

In another case, a 26-year-old allegedly blew 633mcg when stopped by police on Marsden Pt Rd in Ruakaka on Friday evening. He was bailed to appear in court on March 25.

Both cases followed an 18-year-old who allegedly recorded 1301 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The limit for motorists under 20 is zero and for drivers aged 20 and over the limit is 250mcg.

The man, from Morningside in Whangarei, was stopped on Fourth Ave about 1am on Wednesday last week.

Police are shocked the teenager - with fives time the legal adult alcohol level - was able to actually drive.