Police were called to a Bilborough road after reports of a man wielding a machete, a court heard.
Trainee funeral director Jason Turner was detained when officers arrived and a machete found in the front passenger seat of the car.
The car was stopped in Bilborough Road in such a way it seemed to be blocking traffic.
Officers suspected Turner, 35, of Wigman Road, Bilborough, of being under the influence of alcohol on March 21 this year.
When he was asked to provide a specimen of breath, Turner refused, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
He was arrested and taken to the Bridewell custody suite, Nottingham city centre, where he again refused to give a breath specimen.
Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said: "The person who called the officers to the scene and others who were present when police attended were unwilling to provide police with any witness statements.
"It seems there had been some sort of dispute between Jason Turner and his former partner. There seems to be some sort of argument as background to him attending Bilborough".
Turner was found with the keys to a Kia which blocked the road.
When interviewed, he made no comment to questions put to him.
Turner has eight convictions for nine offences including for drink-driving.
Recorder Crowe sentenced Turner to nine months in prison for having the machete in a public place and two months consecutively for failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. The 11-month sentence was suspended for 18 months. He was disqualified from driving for 30 months.
The judge said Turner had pleaded guilty to both offences.
"Police were called to Bilborough Road following witnesses seeing a man wielding a machete," he added. "Officers detained you and found the machete in your car".
He also told Turner he had refused to provide a specimen of breath when he was detained and at the police station.
