Nwicker60
17-Apr-12, 16:27
Mobile phone user was stationary, court hears
AN EAST MEY resident was charged by police for using a mobile phone while he was driving... although he was stationary at the time!
Senior fiscal depute David Barclay described the situation as “slightly unusual”. Andrew Mackenzie (20) had been spotted by police, momentarily stopped at a junction in Traill Street, Thurso, on November 19 last year, using the phone.
Mr Barclay said that nevertheless, as a matter of law, the accused was held to be still in control of the vehicle and driving it.
Mackenzie, of Pentland View, East Mey, pleaded guilty, at Wick Justice of the Peace Court, today, and was fined £200 and incurred three penalty points, which, under the totting up procedure, meant a disqualification of six months.
His solicitor, Jo McDonald, described the offence as “a technical breach of the law to some extent” as the engine of the car was still running.
Vehicle was too heavy
A WATTEN man was caught in a police vehicle check.
It revealed that Donald McPhee wasn’t licenced to drive a vehicle weighing 7.5 tonnes and had no excise licence or insurance. The offence occurred on the A99 at John O’ Groats, on February 27.
Mr Barclay said that McPhee, of Henderson Square, Watten, had indicated that the offences had not been a deliberation flouting of the law, but had stemmed from “a misunderstanding and genuine confusion”.
McPhee (46) was fined a total of £430 and incurred six penalty points.
Flagstone and knife allegations
A WOMAN has been accused of throwing a flagstone at her partner and brandishing a knife at him.
Anna Mearns (35) appeared from custody at Wick Sheriff Court, today, and denied charges of assault and threatening behaviour and damaging a car.
Her co-accused, John Mackenzie (41) pleaded not guilty to threatening or abusive behaviour. The offences are alleged to have occurred at their home in Traill Street, Castletown, yesterday.
Both were granted conditional bail and will return to court for their trial, on June 6.
AN EAST MEY resident was charged by police for using a mobile phone while he was driving... although he was stationary at the time!
Senior fiscal depute David Barclay described the situation as “slightly unusual”. Andrew Mackenzie (20) had been spotted by police, momentarily stopped at a junction in Traill Street, Thurso, on November 19 last year, using the phone.
Mr Barclay said that nevertheless, as a matter of law, the accused was held to be still in control of the vehicle and driving it.
Mackenzie, of Pentland View, East Mey, pleaded guilty, at Wick Justice of the Peace Court, today, and was fined £200 and incurred three penalty points, which, under the totting up procedure, meant a disqualification of six months.
His solicitor, Jo McDonald, described the offence as “a technical breach of the law to some extent” as the engine of the car was still running.
Vehicle was too heavy
A WATTEN man was caught in a police vehicle check.
It revealed that Donald McPhee wasn’t licenced to drive a vehicle weighing 7.5 tonnes and had no excise licence or insurance. The offence occurred on the A99 at John O’ Groats, on February 27.
Mr Barclay said that McPhee, of Henderson Square, Watten, had indicated that the offences had not been a deliberation flouting of the law, but had stemmed from “a misunderstanding and genuine confusion”.
McPhee (46) was fined a total of £430 and incurred six penalty points.
Flagstone and knife allegations
A WOMAN has been accused of throwing a flagstone at her partner and brandishing a knife at him.
Anna Mearns (35) appeared from custody at Wick Sheriff Court, today, and denied charges of assault and threatening behaviour and damaging a car.
Her co-accused, John Mackenzie (41) pleaded not guilty to threatening or abusive behaviour. The offences are alleged to have occurred at their home in Traill Street, Castletown, yesterday.
Both were granted conditional bail and will return to court for their trial, on June 6.