Vernon’s mayor isn’t making any excuses after blowing positive in a breathalyzer.
On Oct. 28, Akbal Mund was pulled over by police at about 2:40 a.m. and asked if he had consumed any alcohol that night. When he said, yes, he was asked to take a breathalyzer test and it indicated a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.05 per cent.
“I made a mistake by driving. My intention was to never put the public at risk,” he said.
“I don’t believe I was intoxicated but something came up on the device. I’m sorry I did it. I’m not minimizing it. It’s an issue, I made a mistake.”
Mund says he had two drinks that night at an event, with the last one at 11:30 p.m. He had had nothing to eat.
At 2:10 a.m., he received a call from a friend who needed a ride home. It was while he was helping his friend that Mund was pulled over.
He received an immediate, three-day roadside prohibition and a $200 fine.
Mund has no issues with the officers on duty that night.
“They are doing their job and good for them,” he said.
Mund is aware that some people’s perceptions of him may change because of the incident, but he insists that he is aware of how serious impaired driving is and he has used taxis to get home in the past.
“It was an eye-opener. You can have two drinks and blow,” he said.
As a result of being pulled over, Mund has a new policy, even if a friend calls for a ride.
“If I’ve had a drink, I’ll stay home,” he said.