School bus driver over the limit

TAURANGA - A Tauranga school bus driver has admitted taking 18 children home after he had been drinking - but says cough syrup was partly to blame.

Graham Rickard Harvey, 57, of Matua, was fined $500 and disqualified from driving a public service vehicle for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to one charge of excess breath alcohol and another of careless driving.

He was driving 18 pupils home when he crashed into a van.

Community magistrates Kevin Hurley and Heather White also disqualified his general driver's licence for six months and ordered him to pay $500 in reparation.

- NZPA