Learner driver who ‘jumped the gun’ fined

Sixty-one-year-old Thomas Taylor, Church Place, Lurgan, was fined £150, with a £15 offender’s levy, and given six points for not having insurance on June 14 this year.

He was also fined £60 for not displaying ‘L’ plates and £60 for driving without a supervisor.

The court heard he was stopped at 2.40pm in Castle Lane and asked for his driving documents.

He only had a provisional licence and the 17-year-old girl with him in the car did not have a full driving licence. There were no ‘L’ plates displayed.

Taylor admitted to police that he was in the wrong.

A solicitor for the defendant said that Taylor was changing his vehicle. This was a Saturday afternoon and he could not get the insurance changed over until the following Monday.

She explained that his wife who was disabled had difficulty getting in and out of the other vehicle and that was why he was changing it.

The solicitor said Taylor took a chance and this was his first time before a court.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant had admitted he was wrong and should have waited to get the insurance transferred.

He ‘jumped the gun’ added Mr Bates.