Disqualified driver again heading for court

A Northland man may face jail after being charged with drink driving for the 10th time.

He also faces his 22nd charge of driving while disqualified.

Kawakawa police stopped the 57-year-old on State Highway One at Towai at 6.15pm on Wednesday because he was not wearing a seatbelt.

He was breath tested and blew 670 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per litre of breath, police say. The legal limit is 400mcg.

The man already has nine drink driving convictions and 21 convictions for driving while disqualified, police said.

The man, who was issued with an infringement notice for not wearing a seatbelt, was subsequently charged with drink driving and driving while disqualified and was expected to appear in the Kaikohe District Court today.

Kawakawa police Sergeant Brian Swann said the charges had been laid indictably, meaning the man faced the prospect of a prison term.

Mr Swann said that if found guilty, the man would be "highly likely to be facing a period of imprisonment with his history".

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)