March 28, 2026

#police: fulla needs to learn to walk home after shocking booze bus result

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 28, 2026

A man’s attempt to convince a court he had stopped drinking before getting behind the wheel has failed after he returned a breath alcohol reading described as shocking.

The case involved a driver who claimed he had been sober at the time he was stopped by police, arguing he had not consumed alcohol immediately prior to driving.

However, a breath screening test told a very different story, with the result coming in at nearly five times the legal limit.

In New Zealand, the legal limit for adult drivers is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, with any reading over 400 micrograms resulting in a criminal charge and a court appearance.

The court rejected the man’s explanation, finding the test result undermined his claim of sobriety and pointing to the seriousness of the level recorded.

The case highlights the risks of drink driving and the difficulty of challenging evidential breath test results when readings are significantly above the legal threshold.

Authorities continue to emphasise that high alcohol readings pose a major safety risk on the roads, with enforcement remaining a key focus in efforts to reduce harm and prevent crashes.