Laois motorist said rain washed L plates off his van
Image for illustration purposes only
A MAN told gardaí the reason why he was driving a van without L plates displayed was because they had been washed off by the rain.
Garda O’Keeffe told Portlaoise District Court last week that while on mobile patrol in Clonrooske View housing estate in Portlaoise on 9 November, he stopped a transit van being driven by Michael William O’Brien (35), 3 Clonrooske View, Portlaoise because there were no L plates displayed. He said the defendant was a learner driver who was unaccompanied by a qualified driver at the time.
Garda O’Keeffe said when asked why there were no L plates on the van, Mr O’Brien told him that: “They had fallen off in the rain.” He said the defendant, who was not present in court, has 39 previous convictions.
For a learner driver driving while unaccompanied and for failing to display L plates, Judge Andrew Cody imposed a €750 fine on each summons and disqualified Mr O’Brien from driving for three months on each summons.
Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that she would normally represent Mr O’Brien but had not received instructions from him about these offences. She asked Judge Cody to fix recognisance in the event Mr O’Brien wished to appeal against the convictions.
Judge Cody agreed and fixed an own bond of €1,000 and a €500 cash lodgement, should an appeal be lodged.
