Bottle of vodka not a good idea: Concerned residents report high-range drink drivers

The first case concerned the driver of a Hyundai Excel which narrowly avoided a collision with oncoming vehicles on Cargo Road on October 21.

Five minutes later police stopped the car on Coronation Drive, and upon approaching the car smelt alcohol through the open window and noticed the driver, Wharerangi Hoete, 63, of Peisley Street, was slurring his words.

Hoete returned a positive reading to a breath test and on analysis returned a high-range reading of 0.22.

Hoete was given a two-year supervised community correction order and will have to attend specialised treatment.

His driver’s licence was disqualified for 12-months and he was also given a 48-month interlock order.

Hoete represented himself in court and said he was returning to Orange from Cargo.

However magistrate David Day said that made the offence worse, “because it’s exposing more people to the risk”.

In the second case, a man drank a bottle of vodka at a pub before getting into his car and attempting to drive home.

Ilie Bulz, 63, of Dalton Street, returned a high-range reading of 0.22 after police were contacted by people who were concerned by his driving.

He appeared in Orange Local Court where he was given a 12-month intensive corrections order with rehabilitation, his driver’s licence was disqualified for 12 months and he’s subject to a 48-month interlock order.