Police Sgt Nicholas Peacock told Mr Cipriani's trial he "appeared to be drunk" when he was brought into Hammersmith police station last June.
He was breathalysed and found to be nearly twice the drink-drive limit in June last year, his trial heard.
The 28-year-old's defence have argued the case should be thrown out.
They told Westminster Magistrates' Court there was a "lack of evidence" against the Sale Sharks star, who denies drink-driving in Fulham, west London.
Sgt Peacock told the court Mr Cipriani's eyes were glazed and "he smelt of intoxicating liquor, appeared to be drunk to me, and was upset and tearful."
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The court previously heard claims police gave Mr Cipriani special treatment and delayed breathalysing him in a move the rugby player believed was "calculated to assist him".
Mr Cipriani was breathalysed after crashing his Mercedes into a taxi and found to have 67 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath - nearly twice the drink-drive limit in England and Wales of 35 micrograms.
But Sgt Peacock said delays are common, particularly at shift changeover, as was the case when Mr Cipriani was brought in.
He also said the sports star was kept outside in a part of the station precinct known as "the cage" in order to stop other detainees recognising him.
"The concern is that if you have a well-known person and they are seen by other people, that information can potentially be leaked to the press," he said.
Philip Lucas, defending, told the court there was not "sufficient" evidence the breathalyser test in the police station was working properly and called for the case to be dismissed.
The move came after the prosecutor and district judge raised concerns that legal proceedings were being "filibustered" and the case "derailed" by "unnecessarily complicated" legal submissions made by Mr Lucas.
The case was adjourned until Friday.

The Reverend James Percival, 66, and Ruth Percival, 29 from Freckleton were arrested on suspicion of child neglect but will not face charges, police said.
They were previously held on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child but also face no further action for those offences.
It followed reports of a woman giving birth to a stillborn baby in 2014.
A post-mortem examination was carried out on the baby but the cause of death remains unascertained.
A spokesperson for Blackburn Diocese said they "note the police decision not to charge the former vicar of Freckleton and his daughter".
"The Diocese has provided pastoral support to the family and will continue to do so as and when required."
Lancashire Police said: "They both answered bail today and, following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, have been told they will face no charges."
Det Supt Sue Clarke, who led the investigation for the force's major investigation team, said it had been an "extremely complex and sensitive enquiry".
"We have worked very closely with the Crown Prosecution Service from the very early stages... and we respect the decision they have made not to bring any charges," she said.
Det Supt Clarke said police "recognise the impact that such investigations can have on all those concerned" but were "duty-bound to thoroughly investigate incidents" and stressed that those arrested "have been dealt with professionally and sensitively throughout".
The wife of Mr Percival, of Holy Trinity Church, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child but was released with no further action.
England rugby star Danny Cipriani was "tearful and upset" after he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, a court has heard.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A vicar and his daughter will face no further action following the death of a baby boy in Lancashire.