It wasn’t the first time police had difficulties with her as only two months previously she had been found outside a bar in the township, grossly intoxicated and having already refused to allow a duty manager to call a taxi for her.
Now the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority has cancelled her manager’s certificate.
The police officer who attended the August 2024 drink-driving incident called for backup after experiencing difficulties dealing with her, according to a recently released decision.
A police sergeant called to the scene told t a recent authority hearing she was argumentative, emotional, taking photos of the police officers, and demanding that she speak to a lawyer.
After a number of unsuccessful attempts to contact the lawyer of her choice, she appeared not to understand that she wasn’t able to speak to that lawyer who couldn’t be contacted, the officer said.
Lores considered it was the police responsibility to make sure that happened, according to the decision.
A police officer said Gabrielle Lores was one of the most difficult people that he had ever dealt with for drink-driving. Photo / Glenn Taylor
An evidential breath test showed 744 micrograms per litre of breath – almost twice the legal limit.
After the breath test result, Lores requested a blood test and was taken to the Levin Police Station.
Police told the authority she became even more obstructive, refusing to go to the clinical room where the blood sample would be taken.
When the duty nurse arrived to take the sample, Lores refused to allow her to do so, claiming she needed a doctor.
The sergeant told the authority he considered Lores one of the most difficult people he had ever dealt with for drink-driving.
A constable told the authority he had found Lores drunk outside a Levin bar at 1am in June 2024.
After refusing to allow the duty manager of the bar she had been in to call a taxi for her, the officer said he dropped her off home.
The authority said it would normallydeal with a person holding a managers’ certificate who returns a breath alcohol reading of under 800 with a 28-day suspension.
“However, in this case the concern is more extensive; the authority needs to be satisfied that Ms Lores is not a serious problem in the making.”
Lores told the authority she would attend the hearing but didn’t turn up.
In an email to the authority in February this year, Lores said she wanted to retain her managers’ certificate, saying there had been no incidents while she was working.
“I take my position of duty manager very serious when working. I have issues with alcohol and getting counselling is helping me to resolve these issues.”
The authority was seriously concerned at Lores’ ability, or more exactly her suitability, to hold a managers’ certificate.
“Here we have a person who clearly has an alcohol problem, and it might well be that she has something of an issue with the police as well.
“In our view, we do not consider that she is a suitable person to hold a manager’s certificate.
“It may be that this position could be reviewed and reconsidered by a district licensing committee in due course, but it would be necessary for Ms Lores to show that she has brought her personal problems under control and that she is someone that can now be trusted.”
Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.