A Rotorua taxi driver has been charged with driving drunk after a passenger complained the man smelled of alcohol in the middle of the day.

Police subsequently arrested the man and charged him with driving with 1050 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The limit for drivers aged 20 and over is 400mcg.

The Daily Post understands the man was arrested after he took a passenger to Rotorua Airport and the person contacted police after allegedly smelling alcohol.

The man was driving at midday.

Senior Sergeant Ed Van Den Broek, of Rotorua, confirmed yesterday the man - who is understood to be a relief driver - was caught at the Rotorua Airport taxi stand on June 21. 
The man has appeared in the Rotorua District Court and has been remanded at large, without plea, to reappear on July 18.

Rotorua Taxi Society chairman Tom Hulton said it was always disappointing when a society member was charged.

"We try and have discipline and control over members but it's really difficult to control."

Mr Hulton said commercial drivers carried a bigger responsibility to adhere to the road rules than private motorists.

News of the man's arrest coincided with an announcement that taxi drivers face tighter rules within new commercial transport industry rules which take effect in October.

The rules affect passenger and goods services, vehicle recovery and car rentals.

New legal responsibilities for taxi companies include reporting serious complaints, and the names of drivers whose employment has been terminated due to improper behaviour, to the Director of Land Transport.

Mr Van Den Broek said Land Transport New Zealand had been notified about the man's charge and it had suspended his taxi licence pending the outcome of his court case.

Commercial drivers face a stiffer penalty than others. Under the Land Transport Act, if a commercial driver is convicted of driving drunk while on duty, they face a minimum licence disqualification of one year and one day and a maximum of 10 years.

A non-commercial driver faces a minimum of six months' disqualification.

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