Judge Cody sends warning to boy racers in Laois
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A SOLICITOR took exception to a judge describing her client as a boy racer at Portlaoise District Court last week.
The judge also took the opportunity to send out a clear warning to boy racers who might want to evade detection from gardaí by installing “dodgy number plates” on their cars.
Judge Andrew Cody made the comments when Peter Andrews (21), Morette, Emo pleaded guilty to displaying non-conforming identification plates on the front and rear of his car on 29 March at Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise.
“He accepts his number plates were non-conforming,” said Mr Andrews’ solicitor Josephine Fitpatrick, who said her client, who works as an apprentice electrician, “has since sold the car and the car he has now has conforming number plates.” Viewing photographs that were taken of the number plates at the time, Judge Cody said he could not see or make out any numbers on the back plate.
Ms Fitzpatrick said that while the front number plate did not conform to the legally required specifications, it had black letterings on a white background that was clearly legible.
She said: “It was good for the eye, but not for the machine (Garda Automatic Number Plate Recognition system).” She said the reason why the fixed charged penalty fines went unpaid was because, when her client went to pay them, his post office was closed and he didn’t go back.
“He was driving around with dodgy number plates that are used to avoid detection,” said Judge Cody, who went on to fine Mr Andrews €200 for having a non-conforming front number plate and fined him €300, along with imposing a one-month driving disqualification for having a non-conforming back number plate.
Judge Cody then warned: “All other boy racers in Laois need to reconsider having dodgy number plates. Maybe the message might get out there. Here was a young man driving a BMW with swanky number plates.” “I take exception to Mr Andrews being labelled a boy racer. He’s a young man with exceptional references and has no previous convictions,” said Ms Fitzpatrick.
