Laois motorist fined €400 for holding phone while driving
Image for illustration purposes
A MAN pleaded not guilty to holding his mobile phone while driving and said, instead, what he was holding was a sat nav on a phone to find his way around Portlaoise as he was new to the area.
Garda Stephen O’Hanlon gave evidence at Portlaoise District Court that on 18 August last year, he was on patrol on the N80 at James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise when he detected the driver of a BMW car holding a mobile phone while driving.
He said when he spoke with the driver, he told him that it was a sat nav that he had been holding at the time and not a phone.
The defendant, Masker Amin, 4 Dunne’s Terrace, Patrick Street, Mountrath, who represented himself in court, said: “It was a sat nav I was holding. I had dropped it and had just picked it up. It was a sat nav on the phone. I was new to the town.” Garda O’Hanlon pointed out to Mr Amin what he had just said, that he was holding a sat nav, to which the defendant replied: “It was a sat nav. You can check my mobile phone history. I made no calls or received any at that time.” Judge Andrew Cody said: “The offence is holding a mobile phone while driving. Whether you’re watching a movie or a sat nav on it, I’m satisfied that you were making a call. It’s an offence to hold a mobile phone while driving.” He went on to fine Mr Amin €400 for the offence.
