Otago Daily Times

Chilly bin antics must end: judge

ALEXANDRA

- ALEXIA JOHNSTON alexia.johnston@odt.co.nz

A DISTRICT court judge has asked if drunken joyrides on motorised chilly bins are a Central Otago problem, after the second case in little over a year.

Anna Lea Pilgrim (40), car groomer, of Alexandra, was the latest joyrider to face a charge of drinkdrivi­ng when she appeared before Judge John MacDonald in Alexandra District Court yesterday.

Birthday celebratio­ns proved her undoing, the court heard.

Pilgrim was stationary when she was spoken to police on May 9, after riding a motorised chilly bin in the street next to the kerb in Clutha St, Alexandra.

She had driven the chilly bin with breathalco­hol of 894mcg and was instantly disqualifi­ed from driving for 28 days.

The legal limit is 250mcg. Judge MacDonald was wry in his assessment of the case.

‘‘I don’t want to see any more about motorised chilly bins.

‘‘Is this a Central Otago problem?’’

Counsel Megan McCrostie acknowledg­ed that in normal circumstan­ces, the defendant would be considered for an interlock licence.

However, she asked Judge MacDonald to consider a lesser penalty due to a range of factors, including the fact Pilgrim travelled less than 100 metres and would have travelled at a speed of 5kmh10kmh.

Judge MacDonald took into considerat­ion that Pilgrim had no previous conviction­s and would need to drive to continue her business effectivel­y.

He said an interlock licence would outweigh the gravity of the offending, but noted the level of alcohol was high and should not be downplayed.

Pilgrim was discharged without conviction, disqualifi­ed for a further month and ordered to pay a donation to a charity of her choice.

Southland truck driver Daniel William Hurley was convicted of similar offending last year. He was fined $700.

His chilly bin antics took place in a Cromwell car park when he had a breathalco­hol level of 540mcg.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand