A grockle down for the Cowes Week celebrations, who was arrested after driving an e-scooter 40 yards whilst drunk, pleaded guilty at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Robert John Curtis, 62, of Hindon Lane, in Tisbury, Wiltshire, admitted drink driving the electrical scooter on Cowes High Street on 6th August.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that Curtis was stopped after he was seen driving an e-Scooter along the High Street – for just 40 yards. He failed a roadside breath test, going on to blow 52 on the evidential machine at Newport Police Station.
Defending, Curtis’ solicitor, Barry Arnett said that during the Cowes Week celebrations his client got into a conversation with a woman with an e-scooter and she asked him if he wanted to have a go on it. He added that when stopped by Police Curtis had no idea what he had done was in any way illegal.
Arnett also requested a hearing to have the case rescinded due to the fact the distance driven was so short.
Curtis – who has no previous convictions – was bailed to reappear for a special reasons hearing at the same venue on 9th November.
I always had it drilled into me that ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Is there any law on the Island?
A van has been parked along Great Preston Road in Ryde for 2 months with NO MOT, same driver also drives around in a car with NO MOT for 7 months.
The Island is LAWLESS when it comes to MOT’S
The enforcement of motoring offences is lax , as a rough estimate 10% of cars here have illegal number plates. Needs enforcing if the law is to be obeyed. Some are mis-spaced , a few have totally illegal fonts and a sinister few have anti camera coatings to defeat speed cameras. They feel entitled to flout the law, leading to a general disregard or other laws as a consequence.
It would be easy to set up checks and the fines would pay the costs.
In case anyone is unaware an illegal plate can invalidate insurance in some cases , and can result in personal plates being withdrawn.
This is a clear cut case. E-scooter legislation has been heavily publicised nationally. No excuses.
I would however like to see more attention paid to the numerous violations we see regularly.
Riding on pavements , under age and two-up riders and sheer dangerous riding on roads and drink and drug riding. Also private E-scooters are appearing on the Island on public spaces. This too is illegal.
More IOW undesirables will be along soon.
The kids on the scooters are ruining our island!
What a self entitled idiot.
These e-scooter thugs will be the finish of us all, you mark my words!
Bit OTT there Qwerty, I bet that your scared of your own shadow.