A teenage boy who feared for the safety of his 12-year-old sister and her friend when he realised his mother was driving after drinking last month, confiscated her car keys and a partly-consumed bottle of gin before calling the police.
Judge Paul Kellar, of Dunedin, convicted Tracey Cless Jefferies (44), of Wanaka, in the Queenstown District Court yesterday after she admitted drink-driving on February 19.
Prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collin said Jefferies drove to pick up her 15-year-old son at 7.30pm and had her daughter and daughter's friend in the car with her.
"She had been drinking vodka and was intoxicated."
Sgt Collin said the woman drove from the New World car park in Wanaka towards her home address.
"On Dungarvon St, her 15-year-old son realised his mother was highly intoxicated after she started to drive towards oncoming traffic.
"He feared for the safety of all and made her stop the car.
"He seized a partly-consumed bottle of gin, the keys to the vehicle and a cellphone to call for help."
Sgt Collin said the teenager called the police and then advised his mother.
On hearing the police were on the way, she fled.
Jefferies was located almost five hours later, at 12.15am, and told police she had not consumed any further alcohol.
A breath test at that time gave a reading of 469mcg.
"She admitted she was an alcoholic and needed some assistance."
Her vehicle had already been surrendered.
Judge Kellar entered the conviction, but remanded Jefferies on bail to April 19 for sentencing, with a condition she was not to drive a vehicle.
He ordered a pre-sentence report to look at whether supervision was appropriate, along with community detention.
