Woman gave police keys to stop herself drink-driving

A Wellington woman who was prosecuted after trying to do "the right thing" and stop herself from drink driving will keep her driver's licence.

Cassandra Palmer, 46, was convicted in Wellington District Court yesterday of refusing to give blood and fined $600 plus court costs.

But police agreed not to confiscate her licence due to special circumstances, The Dominion Post reported.

At a defended hearing last year, Palmer said after a family tragedy she drove from her home in Johnsonville and parked outside Wellington Central Library, where she drank a bottle of wine.

She then walked into the nearby Wellington police station to use the toilet and hand over her car keys.

After admitting she drove into town, police tried to process her for drink driving but she refused a breath or blood test.

Judge Susan Thomas yesterday said it was irrelevant that police could not prove she drove drunk.

The suspicion she had done so was enough, she said.

Outside Mrs Palmer said she was considering appealing the conviction.

- NZPA