Convicted Driver
Penalty points for splashing police
Thu, 19 Jan 2006
A driver has been given a £150 fine and had five penalty points added to his licence after 'inadvertently' drenching a police officer when he drove his truck through a puddle.
Chris Pearson, 25, was driving his 20-tonne truck down a country lane near Carlisle last October. Although only driving at 30mph, Mr Pearson failed to slow down on approaching a two foot deep puddle of water, soaking a police officer who was helping stranded traffic in the road.
The policewoman stopped the driver and accused him of soaking her on purpose and then laughing.
"She told me that I would be getting a fine and I was totally shocked," said Mr Pearson.
"I admitted I was guilty because I did go through the puddle but there's no way that I'd laugh about it."
The Road Haulage Association, which backed Mr Pearson, said that a small fine had been expected but that the five penalty points was a "very harsh" punishment for such a minor offence.
Drivers with penalty points on their licences can benefit from taking out a convicted driver insurance policy.
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