Police officer in court after positive breath test

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A Taupo police officer has been accused of drink-driving after failing an alcohol breath test at a checkpoint.

It is alleged Raymond John Dunbar asked the officer who told him he had failed a roadside breath-test to let him go, something he denies.

He appeared in the Taupo District Court yesterday for a defended hearing before Judge Louis Bidois after denying one charge of drink-driving.

Contacted by the Daily Post, police area commander Inspector Steve Bullock said Dunbar had been on restricted duties since being charged and was subject to an employment investigation.

The court was told yesterday that the 24-year-old was pulled over on Control Gate bridge on August 28 and was found to have a reading of 509 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, exceeding the limit of 400.

Dunbar was returning home after a night out at a bar on Tuwharetoa St.

He was at the bar for more than five hours and said he drank five beers and ate bar snacks throughout the night.

He said he didn't consider himself intoxicated and unable to drive, so left the bar at 1.45am and drove home.

Constable Amanda Cooney, called as a witness by police prosecutor Stephen Coleman, pulled Dunbar over.

Ms Cooney, who is no longer a police officer, said he had failed a roadside breath-screening test and when she showed him the result he replied; "You're joking."

She said Dunbar then told her he lived just four roads to the north and asked, "Are you sure I can't go?"

Dunbar's lawyer Bill Lawson suggested there had been a misunderstanding when his client made that comment which Dunbar had meant in relation to the test result.

Ms Cooney said she didn't believe it was said in that context.

She said she handed Dunbar's case over to the officer in charge of the checkpoint that night, Sergeant Andrew Lynch, who told the court in evidence yesterday that he took Dunbar to the police "booze bus".

After reading Dunbar his rights, which Dunbar acknowledged and signed, Mr Lynch said the officer was given time to consider his options but he did not request a blood test.

Dunbar said Ms Cooney was mistaken about the comment "Are you sure I can't go".

He also said he had nodded at Mr Lynch, indicating he did want the blood test.

Mr Lynch said the only time Dunbar had asked for a blood test was after 18 minutes, which was too late.

Judge Bidois has reserved his decision until tomorrow.

- APN