Underage, intoxicated driver detained in Hamilton

A Hamilton boy has been referred to Youth Aid after being found behind the wheel of a car he had no permission to have, allegedly driving well over the adult legal alcohol limit yesterday morning.

Waikato District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said the 14-year-old came to the police's attention after an officer at a checkpoint on Bridge St saw a car lose control at the intersection of Grey St.

"The car was pulled over outside the Police Station and the officer was surprised to find the driver was only 14-years-old and appeared to have been drinking.

"Processed for excess breath alcohol the boy blew 540mgs, but elected to have a blood sample taken, the legal alcohol limit for a licensed adult driver is 400mgs per litre of breath."

Mr Tooman said a 20-year-old friend was travelling as a passenger in the car which belonged to a relative of the boy, Police understand the vehicle had been taken without that relative's knowledge.

"While being processed the boy became very abusive and uncooperative and ended up having to be handcuffed to be taken home."

"Police action in relation to the boy and what, if any, charges the adult passenger could face will be determined by the results of the blood alcohol tests."

Mr Tooman said given that a number resources had to be used to stop two 15-year-old drivers who fled Police last weekend it was concerning that it was becoming common for young people to be driving without licences.

"In those two incidents both teenagers were driving stolen cars and breaching existing bail conditions, it appears the possibility of being caught or the risk of injuring themselves or other people is little deterrent.

"These young people simply don't have the motor skills to respond to things happening on the road, already we've had inexperienced drivers breaching their graduated licences involved in three double and one triple fatality crashes but the boy involved in yesterday's incident wasn't even old enough to have a learners licence."

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