Christchurch councillor offers to quit after drink-driving charge

A Christchurch city councillor on a road safety committee today offered to resign, after being found guilty of a drink-driving charge.

Riccarton councillor Helen Broughton, 54, pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court yesterday for failing to provide a blood specimen for drink-driving analysis.

Judge Graeme Noble fined her $800 and disqualified her from driving for six months.

"I have made a mistake and apologised," Broughton told Newstalk ZB radio today.

"In terms of this committee I was trying to do what was honourable. There were two approaches. One is to resign and I am happy to do so.

"The other is to take an action-oriented approach where I front this issue, contribute any money I earn to an appropriate organisation and give some form of leadership on this."

Broughton said the drink-drive charge resulted after working long hours and staying behind after a council meeting for drinks, then driving.

"This is quite an easy thing to do that lots of businesses get into," she said.

"If it's the best thing to go, I am happy to resign. It's an issue between myself, Ingrid Stonhill (committee chair) and (mayor) Garry Moore.

"At no stage have I ever said I would not resign."

Asked if she thought a resignations was on the cards, Broughton said : "I would think so."

The Christchurch Road Safety Co-ordinating Committee deals with issues such as preventing drink driving.

Broughton offered to donate any meeting fees to the Community Alcohol Action Programme.

Ms Stonhill said it would be totally inappropriate for her to remain on the committee "given that we focus so much on reducing the trauma of drink-driving".

Mr Moore said the issue needed to be considered by the full council.

Broughton said she did not intend to refuse a blood specimen request. She had wanted her lawyer present when the specimen was taken, but said she now understood police procedure.

Police said Broughton had refused to provide a blood sample despite a number of requests and consultation with lawyers.

- NZPA