A California man was fined $1,000 for calling a Customs Officer an a**hole after he was pulled aside for secondary inspection at the Airport on Sunday.

Daniel Cuthbertson, 57, of San Bruno, spent the night in a Police cell and appeared before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner on Monday morning.

Just hours before he had asked the officer: ?I?m an American, what right do you have to search me??

Officials said his breath smelled of intoxicating liquors and he was uncooperative.

Cuthbertson told the officers that he was from California, on vacation in Bermuda for seven days and had already paid for his rental cycle, adding: ?You are an a**hole!?

When Mr. Warner told him that in America his behaviour would not be tolerated and asked: ?What makes you think you can act like that in this country??

A contrite Cuthbertson replied he had been flying for 14 hours and was very tired.

?I have to have a few drinks before flying to calm my nerves,? he said.

?I felt like I was mistreated and I overstepped my authority. I was stupid, it was very dumb of me and I have no right.?