Silly mistake? You have a problem, driver is told

A drink-driver has been labelled ‘irresponsible’ after being caught out with close to four times the legal amount of alcohol in his system.

It was not the first time Troyden Mark Waters had been before the court for driving with excess alcohol, the New Plymouth District Court heard.

The summary of facts said Waters had been seen driving along New Plymouth’s Courtenay St about 10.40pm on April 26, when a series of complaints from the public were lodged with police about the manner of the 27-year-old’s driving.

Officers visited him at his home a short time later and a breath test was completed.

The New Plymouth chef blew 952 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg. ‘‘In explanation the defendant stated that he had been drinking at a bar in town and then driven home,’’ the summary of facts said.

Waters pleaded guilty to a charge of drink-driving when he appeared before the New Plymouth District Court yesterday.

Self-represented, Waters was asked by community magistrate Sherida Cooper whether he wanted to say anything about the offending.

‘‘I made a silly mistake,’’ he told the court.

Cooper snapped back and said it was his second conviction for drink-driving within a short space of time and both involved high alcohol readings.

‘‘You have a problem,’’ she Waters.

‘‘It’s not a silly mistake, it’s an irresponsible decision which put other people’s lives at risk.’’

Waters was ordered to do 130 hours of community work and complete a nine month term of supervision.

He was disqualified from driving for six months.

When he is eligible to drive again, Waters will have to apply for a zero alcohol licence which will remain in place for three years.

This means if Waters is found behind the wheel with any amount of alcohol in his system during this time, he could face a new charge. told