A Winton man who drove a tractor about 230km, towing a large set of agricultural discs and a double-cab ute, blew an excess breath alcohol reading of 1077mcg when he was stopped by police.
Tractor driver John Kidd, 25, appeared before Judge John Brandts-Giesen for sentence in the Invercargill District Court yesterday for drink-driving, dangerous driving and driving contrary to the terms of his limited licence.
Reading the summary, Judge Brandts-Giesen said Kidd was on a limited licence when he drove the John Deere tractor from Tarras to Winton on February 18 last year.
Police received complaints from two members of the public about Kidd's erratic driving which included swerving, narrowly avoiding driving into ditches and trying to pass a smaller tractor on a double-yellow line.
When police caught up to him at Centre Bush, he was travelling at 80km/h and was still crossing the centre line, and they witnessed him almost hitting a road sign.