Liberal MP who blew .19 pressured by Matthew Guy to quit politics

Liberal upper house MP Simon Ramsay has been put under pressure to resign from state politics by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy after being caught driving almost four times over the legal alcohol limit.

The Western Victoria MP has already been preselected for another four-year term in State Parliament but Mr Guy wants him to consider resigning following the state election after having been caught drink-driving at the weekend.

Liberal MP for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay was pulled over by police with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.19 per cent.Credit: Rob Gunstone

Mr Ramsay faces serious drink-driving penalties.

He blew a reading of .19 per cent shortly after being intercepted by police in Barwon Heads late on Saturday night.

Police pulled Mr Ramsay over after his car was spotted crossing onto the wrong side of the road in Carr Street  about 11.30pm.

“The driver, a 63-year-old Barwon Heads man, returned a positive breath test,” police said in a statement.

“He was accompanied to a police station where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.191 per cent.

“The man had his licence immediately suspended and will be charged on summons with drink-driving offences.”

State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.Credit: Justin McManus

The Age has attempted to contact Mr Ramsay, who has already quit his position as shadow parliamentary secretary over the incident.

Mr Guy said he was angry when Mr Ramsay phoned him to tell him about being caught drink-driving and has "asked him to reflect upon his future" before the two meet in the next few days.

"He has acknowledged he has done the wrong thing, he's paid a very high price for it and frankly so he should," Mr Guy said.

Mr Ramsay faces the cancellation of his licence, a driving ban of between 15 and 24 months, a fine and a requirement to use an alcohol interlock for six months once he resumes driving.

His driving ban would make it virtually impossible to cover his electorate of Western Victoria, which stretches from Melbourne's western fringe to the South Australian border.

Mr Guy said this was among the reasons he ought to consider leaving politics after the November 24 election.

Mr Ramsay has been an upper house MP since 2010.

He is the second member of Mr Guy's shadow ministry to step down over a legal matter, following Nationals MP Tim McCurdy's resignation as shadow minister for sport, gaming and veterans in March to fight fraud charges in court.

Mr McCurdy denies the charges and retains his party's support as MP for Ovens Valley.

Premier Daniel Andrews told ABC Radio it was entirely a matter for Mr Ramsay if he should remain in Parliament.

“In all of my dealings with Simon Ramsay he has always been … a decent person,” Mr Andrews said.

“I’m sure we don’t agree on many things, but I’m not about making what would be a very difficult time for him worse.”

Mr Ramsay was one of a handful of Liberal MPs who voted to support Victoria's historic voluntary euthanasia bill last year, ensuring its passage.