The ''quite exceptional'' circumstances of an incident which led to a man being charged with drink-driving on May 4, caused Judge Robert Murfitt to waive any fine or disqualification in the Queenstown District Court on Tuesday.
Austin Mason Edmond Chambers (19), student, of Dunedin, was stopped by police after being found in the driver's seat of a vehicle, which had broken down outside the Queenstown Police Station on Church St.
It was being pushed by associates into another car park.
Chambers gave a positive breath tested reading of 462mcg.
The court heard after the car had broken down the sober driver had gone to get food.
Chambers then got into the driver's seat. The keys were not in the ignition, the motor was not running and the steering wheel had locked.
Judge Murfitt said while what Chambers' was doing qualified under the legal definition as ''driving'', he found there were special reasons to waive any disqualification.
The judge entered a conviction but said Chambers' behaviour was ''harmless''.
