NAUGHTY: Former Labour leader David Cunliffe admits he was stopped and fined for talking on his cellphone while driving

Former Labour leader David Cunliffe has reportedly been pulled over for using his cellphone while driving.

Cunliffe was ticketed by police yesterday morning near Plimmerton, north of Wellington, after a complaint from a motorist, NZME reported.

According to the complainant, Cunliffe was driving erratically but Cunliffe denied this.

However, he admitted he had "made a cellphone call or two" in hands-free mode and had been given an infringement notice.

He was fined $80 by a police officer, NZME reported.

Cunliffe has refused further comment.

Prime Minister John Key said while politicians broke the law from time-to-time, they had to be held to account.

"No politician is above the law," he said.

"David Cunliffe can judge himself, I'm not going to judge him."

In 2013, more than 1100 drivers on average were ticketed every month for using their phones.

Research completed by Opus on behalf of the NZ Transport Agency showed 43 per cent of mobile phone use by drivers was going undetected.



It has been illegal for drivers to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving since 2009.