An on-shift taxi driver was allegedly driving more than six times over the legal alcohol limit in Auckland yesterday afternoon.
The driver, who was working at the time, has been charged after police responded to a complaint about driving on State Highway 20.
The caller said a driver of a taxi van heading northbound at 2pm was "potentially falling asleep at the wheel".
“While speaking with the call taker, the caller advised the taxi van had several near misses with other motorists on the road,” Senior Sergeant Bill Russell said.
Russell said the caller got behind the van and turned on their hazard lights to warn other motorists. As the taxi van neared the Waterview Tunnel, its speed fluctuated.
Officers eventually caught up with the van on the motorway near Mt Albert.
The 40-year-old driver was taken into custody for an alcohol breath test. He blew a result more than six times the legal limit.
The man was summonsed to court, charged with being a transport service driver with breath alcohol over 400mcgs per litre.
"Police enquiries are ongoing and further action cannot be ruled out."
Russell said it was "deeply alarming" that a professional driver may have been transporting people while under the influence of alcohol.
“I shudder to think what might have happened had this man not been stopped.”
He commended the motorist who reported the taxi van for "seeing something and doing something about it".
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