EDMONTON — Edmonton MP Peter Goldring says he had only one beer the night he was pulled over for suspected drunk driving, and plans to fight the case in court.
The 67-year-old Conservative member of Edmonton East — now sitting as an Independent — said Wednesday he will plead not guilty to one charge of failing to provide a breath sample.
“I was not under the influence of any alcohol or intoxicating substance,” Goldring, his wife Lorraine by his side, told reporters outside provincial court.
“I did not provide the breath sample, and the reasons for that will be presented in a court of law.
“I only ask I not be judged until such time as I’ve been provided the opportunity to present my case.”
He made the comments after appearing in provincial court on the charge. His lawyer will be back in court Feb. 15, with a trial expected to go ahead in the fall.
Goldring wouldn’t specify what his defence will be, but suggested it will revolve around how police came to stop and interrogate him.
“Although I was not impaired by alcohol, the police officer demanded that I provided a roadside breath sample at the time because I admitted to recently having consumed a very small amount of alcohol — one beer,” he said.
“Can you tell us why you were pulled over?” a reporter asked.
“No, I can’t because quite frankly that’s part and parcel of what will be discussed in a court of law,” he said.
“How were you treated by police that night?” asked another.
“I cannot go into that. That’s also part and parcel of what will be discussed.”
He was pulled over by police just after midnight on Dec. 4 three blocks from where he had been attending a Christmas party at the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex in the north end of the city.
Goldring has long challenged roadside breath-screening devices as an affront to the presumption of innocence and a person’s right to not self-incriminate.
Shortly after his arrest, he phoned a local radio station to say that while no one should drink and drive, he was standing up for civil liberties.
He hinted Wednesday that stand will be the core of his defence.
He said the ordeal has been “terrible” for his family and agreed his reputation has taken a hit, which he says is all the more reason to take the case to court.
If found guilty, Goldring faces a minimum $1,000 fine up to five years in jail, and a driving prohibition.
Goldring said he hopes his constituents will avoid passing judgment until the facts are heard in court, but also said he may not get a chance to test that faith by running in the next election.
“I’ve been elected six times. I’m 67 years old. My understanding is we have a majority government that will be going for three, four years,” he said.
“You judge yourself whether I really should be running at the age of 71.”