Photo: fileA 23-year-old Queenstown builder caught driving nearly five times the alcohol limit in Frankton Rd had already been fined twice for drink-driving. The result came back at 245mg — nearly five times the legal limit and equivalent to a breath-alcohol reading of 1225mcg. Ms Steele asked the young man’s lawyer, DeAnne Nicoloso, if he had a problem with alcohol the court could help him deal with. Ms Steele said Redmond had no previous convictions, but had incurred demerit points from twice exceeding the legal alcohol limit. Although she accepted his belief he did not need any help for alcohol issues, she urged him to be "very mindful" of his attitude to alcohol and driving — his blood-alcohol level was of a magnitude that made an alcohol interlock sentence mandatory.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 06, 2026 16:02 UTC