Drink-driver avoids prison
A South Canterbury man was nabbed for his eighth drinkdriving offence in Timaru just nine weeks after committing his seventh breach.
Daniel John James Humm, 47, of Milford Huts, blew 706mcg when stopped on Evans St/State Highway 1 on July 29, and 998mcg when stopped for speeding on Wilson St on September 15, the Timaru District Court heard yesterday.
Judge Dominic Dravitzki said Humm told police he had consumed two large cans of beer and thought he would be okay to drive when stopped for a breath test on July 29.
When stopped for speeding on September 15, Humm was ‘‘very frank with police and told them he had been drinking was probably over the limit’’ with Judge Dravitzki saying the 998mcg level being a ‘‘long way over the limit’’.
‘‘You have a significant history of driving while impaired by alcohol.’’
Lawyer John Black had earlier said he supported an electronically monitored sentence and that Humm had been in custody since September 16.
‘‘He understands he stands to lose everything, his partner, home and support, if he continues down this path.’’
Judge Dravitzki’s starting point for sentencing was 15 months’ jail for the September event and 10 months’ jail for July. The 25 months’ total was reduced to 20 months for totality and there was a further 25% reduction (five months) for early guilty pleas.
Judge Dravitzki said he was required also to take in the time Humm had spent in custody, which was effectively four months’ jail.
Because of that he further reduced the jail term to 11 months and converted it to five months, two weeks of home detention, tagged with special conditions of attending assessments for appropriate alcohol related programmes and ordering he complete those found to be appropriate.
Humm was also ordered not to possess or use drugs or alcohol unless prescribed.
Judge Dravitzki said he would normally order an alcohol interlock licence, but as Humm didn’t have access to a vehicle, he was satisfied the course in this situation was not to impose a finite term of disqualification but to disqualify him from driving indefinitely.