A Central Otago man has had a temporary reprieve from a drink-driving charge - while police research whether the motorised chillybin he was riding is considered a vehicle.

Daniel William Hurley (24), a contractor, of Mount Pisa, was charged with drink-driving with a breath-alcohol reading of 540mcg in Cromwell on October 20.

But when Judge Kevin Phillips heard in the Alexandra District Court yesterday that Hurley had been riding a motorised chillybin in a car park outside a Cromwell bar at the time, he questioned whether the chillybin would be termed a vehicle under the Land Transport Act.

Police said it was, but Judge Phillips adjourned the matter until later in the day so police and counsel for Hurley, Tanya Surrey, could do some research.

When the matter was recalled, Ms Surrey said she had asked police to withdraw the charge but they had declined.

Hurley's earlier guilty plea to the charge was withdrawn, and he was remanded without plea until February 14 for police to do further research.