Whangarei motorcyclist jailed

A Whangarei motorcyclist has been jailed for six months for his fourth drink-driving conviction.

Ian Richard GIRVIN, 49, appeared for sentencing in Whangarei District Court for driving with excess breath alcohol for a third or subsequent time.

Girvin was stopped riding his Aprilia motorcycle on Riverside Drive by police and given a breath test, which revealed a level of 582mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and above is 400mcg.

Girvin said he had consumed beer but thought he'd be all right to drive.

He was sentenced to six months' jail and disqualified from driving for 15 months for his fourth drink driving conviction.

Northland has some of the highest rates of drink-driving in the country, particularly repeat offenders, and the Northern Advocate is publishing its "name and shame" list of all people convicted of drink-driving offences in the region.

Also sentenced in Northland's courts recently were:

Albert DAVIS, 48, 97 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, eight months' home detention, disqualified from driving indefinitely for eight drink driving conviction.

Dustin PHILLIPS, 23, 869mcg, six months' community detention, 12 months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day for third drink-driving conviction.

Tyler FIAUI, 19, 221mcg, 120 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for nine months. Bessie REEDY, 40, unemployed, 795mcg, 40 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Te Reo O Ngapere Bronson PIHEMA, 22, 630mcg, 60 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Honorata Merata LEE, 23, 678mcg, 60 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for six months.

Liquor limits: Aged 20 and above: 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath; 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Under 20: Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit of between 0.00 and 0.03 will receive an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points.

Young drivers with a blood alcohol limit over that will continue to be subject to the same drink-drive penalties as adults.