A very fishy excuse ... John Przybyla, 73, claimed his alcoholic breath was due to a beer battered fish meal. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Limited

An officer smelt alcohol on his breath when the 73-year-old Przybyla was pulled over in his Ford Ranger in the township of Dell Prairie in Adams County, Wisconsin.

Przybyla’s excuse is a corker.

“John said he had been at a fish fry and was going home ... he said he wasn’t drinking and had (eaten) beer battered fish,” Adams County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brian Loewenhagen wrote in his report, The Smoking Gun reported.

The open can of Red Dog Beer on the passenger seat and his bloodshot and glossy eyes immediately had Deputy Loewenhagen thinking Przybyla’s story was a bit fishy.

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Had “eaten beer battered fish” .... John Przybyla, 73, had nine previous drink driving convictions when he was stopped. Picture: Adams County Sheriff's Office Source: Supplied

Przybyla, of Friendship, was asked to get out of his truck (which had a defective tail light) and take a breath test.

It showed a blood-alcohol content of .062, below the .08 limit, however due to previous convictions Przybyla is not allowed to drive with a blood-alcohol content above .02.

He was taken to Adams County Sheriff’s Office and charged with his 10th drink driving offence and four other motoring offences, including having the open can of beer in the vehicle and for driving without a licence.

Przybyla’s first drink driving offence was in 1995. He was jailed for one year for one offence in 2011, reported whotv.com.

He is scheduled to appear in court on January 21.

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