2 May 2013

Lawyer suspended for breath test antics

5:50 pm on 2 May 2013

A West Coast lawyer who pulled the cord out of a breath testing machine and later tried to fool it by putting coins in his mouth has been suspended for three months and fined more than $12,000.

Douglas Taffs was pulled over by police in March 2011 after failing to stop at a checkpoint.

His blood-alcohol level was 50% over the legal limit.

The Law Society's disciplinary tribunal said in its ruling, Taffs had brought the profession into disrepute and a three-month suspension reflects the seriousness of his offending.

It said one reason the suspension was not longer is because lawyers are scarce on the West Coast.