O'Connor promises to keep left after crossing line

Labour MP and former Police Association president Greg O'Connor has been hit with a $150 fine and 20 demerit points after a member of the public photographed him driving on the wrong side of the road.

It is embarrassing for Mr O'Connor, who was the longest-serving president of the association before he became the MP for Ohariu in 2017.

Police said a member of the public contacted them about a car being driven on the Gibbston Highway, which is State Highway 6, just east of Queenstown about 8.45pm on Wednesday last week.

Police failed to locate Mr O'Connor's vehicle that night, but have since spoken to Mr O'Connor.

"Following further inquiries, the driver of a vehicle which was reported to police on January 9 on SH6 near Queenstown will be issued with an infringement notice for `failing to keep left','' a police spokesman said.

"The penalty is a $150 fine and 20 demerit points. Police would like to thank any member of the public who helps us keep our roads safe.''

Last week, Mr O'Connor said he had no memory of driving in a way that would warrant police attention, and he repeated that when contacted yesterday.

But he had been shown photographs of his car crossing the centreline.

"I've accepted that I crossed the line and I've paid the ticket,'' Mr O'Connor said.

He said he was not impaired in any way - he does not drink - nor was he attending to his son Michael, who has autism.

"No excuses. I accept it. No excuses.''

Asked if he was embarrassed, Mr O'Connor said: "It is what it is.''

He said he would be more vigilant about staying in his lane in the future.

The offence would probably "bemuse'' political commentators, he said, "the fact that I've pleaded guilty to `failing to keep left' doesn't signal that I'm going to be crossing the floor anytime soon.''

Failing to keep left is an infringement offence and does not result in a criminal record.

Mr O'Connor had told the Prime Minister's office.

A spokesman for Jacinda Ardern said: "The Prime Minister expects the members of the caucus and all the MPs to abide by the law.''