Girl, 13, caught drink-driving

A 13-year-old girl was caught drink-driving in Invercargill on Tuesday night after police received tip-offs from concerned witnesses.

After they spotted the girl driving what was understood to be the family car, officers pulled her over in the city about 6pm.

Police would not confirm her breath alcohol reading. As a 13-year-old she was not criminally culpable for driving without a licence or for drinking before getting behind the wheel, Sergeant Phil Berryman told the Southland Times.

However, he said her level, if she was criminally responsible for drink-driving, exceeded the under-20 breath alcohol level of 150mcg, but was less than the adult level of 400mcg.

Her actions raised a "red flag" for police about her care and protection, he said.

"We aren't looking at a criminal sentence...it's about what needs to be put in place."

In a worst-case scenario, a child could be taken from its family and placed into Child, Youth and Family custody, Mr Berryman said.

- NZPA