An Oamaru resident dobbed in a drink-driver who got behind the wheel after an all-night whiskey session.
Police said the man was stopped on Severn St at 9.30am yesterday after a tip-off from a member of the public.
The 42-year-old recorded a breath-alcohol level of 1600mcg, and was instantly banned from driving for 28 days. The adult limit is 400mcg.
''I gather the man had stopped drinking in the early hours after drinking whiskey for most of the night, and he was still at that level then,'' Acting Sergeant Ewen Graham said.
The driver admitted to drinking a bottle and a-half of Jack Daniels with a relative in an all-night drinking session.
Oamaru community constable Bruce Dow said the level was the highest he had seen and described the driver as a "potential killer".
"The person who rang us was doing the right thing," Mr Dow said.
The sooner such drink-drivers were off the road, the better, he said.
"They were putting not only themselves but oncoming traffic and pedestrians in danger."
The man is to appear in the Oamaru District Court on July 18.
- additional reporting Oamaru Mail
