Judge could not believe his eyes

Press, 4 December 1981, Page 3

Judge could not believe his eyes

PA Dannevirk Judge Bate could not believe his eyes in the District Court at” Dannevirk on Wednesday. When Stuart Douglas Tait, aged 60, of Woodville appeared on a charge of driving with an excess bloodalcohol level, the Judge asked whether there was a printing error on the charge sheet. Tait recorded a level of 1400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of blood — 900 over the limit — the Court was told. The police said Tait was seen driving without lights and was stopped. A strong smell of alcohol was apparent and a breath alcohol test was given. Counsel, Mr E. W. Gartrell, said Tait was employed as first assistant at the Tui dairy factory and one of his duties was to answer the burglar alarm. Tait had gone to bed after having drinks, secure in the knowledge that it was the manager’s turn to answer the alarm. At this time a drink-drive blitz was going on in Woodville and traffic officers were assembled in the factory’s grounds. One of them tripped the alarm, which Mr Tait heard but ignored. The manager, however, went out and the traffic officer was so intrigued as to how he had tripped the alarm, that the manager repeated the motion. The second time Mr Tait thought he had better answer it and on his way to the factory was stopped by the officer who had tripped the alarm. The Judge said the fine of $350 he had imposed was much less than the $750 that would normally have been imposed. Also he told Tait he was lucky the period of disqualification was six months and not 12 or more.