Drink driving admitted

An 18-year-old Greenstreet man pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving.

Matthew John Moore blew 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath when stopped by police on Alford Forest Road on July 6.

He will appear again on November 16.

Post-hunting drinks

A Methven man who stopped off for a couple of drinks on the way home from a hunting trip near Castle Hill has ended up with his second drink driving conviction.

Mark John Rattray was stopped by police on Waimarama Rd on August 12.

The 37-year-old blew 666mcg in a breath test.

Duty lawyer Tiffany McRae said Rattray sopped for a few drinks in Darfield on the way home from hunting.

Rattray then drove to drop a friend off in Rolleston before driving home to Methven.

"That’s a lot of driving with alcohol in your system," O'Brien said.

Rattray was disqualified from driving for seven months and fined $800 plus court costs.

Reparation order

A solo mum was ordered to pay more than $5000 when sentenced for careless driving.

Te Hirea Eketone-Whitu, 26, had earlier admitted careless driving on May 26.

According to the summary of facts, Eketone-Whitu was driving on Havelock St and failed to give way to an oncoming car at an intersection.

She told police she did not see the car.

O’Brien said the victim’s car was damaged and the victim was taken to hospital with soft tissue damage to the ribs and lower back and where seat belt had sat.

The victim was having trouble sleeping and the accident had left the victim scared to drive.

O’Brien said Eketone-Whitu had expressed genuine remorse at a restorative justice meeting and the victim had forgiven Eketone-Whitu and urged her to "take a few extra seconds to check the road next time".

O’Brien ordered Eketone-Whitu to pay just over $5300 in reparation at $10 a week with the understanding that Eketone-Whitu would pay extra when she was able to.

Guilty plea

Zachary Jorg Shearer, 26, admitted driving while disqualified and failing to stop for police.

He was remanded to December 14 to give him time to complete a defensive driving course once his period of disqualification was over.

A day too early

A woman heading into Ashburton get her licence reinstated discovered she had got the date wrong when police stopped her near Dunsandel.

Nicole Jane Tait, 34, admitted driving while suspended, one day before her suspension ended.

Duty lawyer Tiffany McRae said Tait was heading into Ashburton to get her licence reinstated. However, she had got the date wrong and was a day too early.

O'Brien remanded Tait's case to December 14 to allow her to get her restricted licence.

Loss of traction

An Allenton woman failed to appear on a charge of sustained loss of traction on Lake Hood Drive on August 13.

The 31-year-old's attendance was excused for medical reasons.

O'Brein remanded DwanaTimutimu to October 26 and requested she provide a medical certificate to the court.

Further disqualification

A man living rough in his car plead guilty to driving while suspended.

Thomas Tamati Tautau, 71, told police he was homeless and had felt compelled to drive to Pleasant Point to find out about an option for accommodation.

Tautau, who is still homeless, was disqualified from driving for a further six months.

Remand

A man who has never held a New Zealand driver's licence admitted two driving charges.

Raymond Laki Tulaga, 37, pleaded guilty to driving while forbidden on July 4 and to careless driving causing injury on the Hinds Highway.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Stuart Whyte said reparation of $1250 was sought.

O'Brien made a restorative justice referral.

Tulaga will appear again on December 14. He was encouraged to get his learner's licence before the next court date.