Naughty Northland MP John Carter was keeping a low profile yesterday after being ticked off by his National Party leader for swearing at a police officer. The veteran Northland politician was stopped by police after failing to indicate while driving into a Kaitaia carpark on Friday. Mr Carter admitted losing his temperwhen the officer asked if his vehicle was registered. "I just directed him to the front. I said something like, `Look on the ****ing front window'." He later issued a media release saying he regretted the incident. "I respect the police for the job they do. I should have just pointed out to him that the car was registered," he said. Mr Carter was unavailable for comment yesterday. Television crews scouting around his electoral office at Kerikeri yesterday were unable to find him for comment on National leader John Key giving him a mouthwash. It was not the first time the Northland MP had been in hot water. A drink-driving conviction troubled him during the first of his seven terms in Parliament and he was later demoted from his position as National chief whip after impersonating a Maori beneficiary named "Hone" on a radio talkback show run by former Whangarei MP John Banks. But Mr Carter has consistently polled well and today, ranked 19th in the party, is the party spokesman for local government and civil defence. Mr Key said he made it clear to Mr Carter that swearing was "totally unacceptable". It had been suggested Mr Carter had attempted to make a citizen's arrest of the officer, which he denied. Mr Key said he did not think there was a serious attempt to make a citizen's arrest. "The police force of New Zealand need and deserve respect and if you are getting a ticket for something you don't like, well tough luck, don't break the law, and if you are a member of my caucus don't go out there abusing the police officer or you will get me taking it up pretty seriously." Mr Carter received a $150 ticket for not indicating. He telephoned Northland police chief Superintendent Mike Rusbatch on Monday to apologise for his outburst and paid his fine. Mr Rusbatch told the Northern Advocate he was satisfied with the MP's response and police were not taking the matter further.
