Drink-drive costs pile up
A rebuild worker from overseas has suffered a huge financial setback after breaching New Zealand’s drink-drive laws.
He has been working on the Christchurch rebuild for two years two months while sending money back to his wife and two sons in the Philippines.
He had spent the night at a function out of Christchurch and set off early on June 7 to return to the city, to get to a church service.
He says he swerved on the West Coast Road to avoid a rabbit and slid along the wet grass and crashed through a Selwyn District road sign.
That led to a charge of drink-driving when a check showed a level of 555mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath.
He was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for six months.
He wrecked his car and he has lost his insurance because of the alcohol conviction. He cannot afford to get the car repaired.
The council’s insurance company is now seeking $10,000 from him for the smashed road sign as well.
He may get some help from his workmates to get through all these difficulties.
The court did not hear the fate of the rabbit
Category: Observations
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