Whilst I agree the charge was frivolous, how can the Judge say he is technically guilty but because it is good for tourism (horse and cart) he will let him off. So next time a taxi driver gets booked for speeding...."officer I was on my way to the airport to..you know...that important job...picking up tourists. Don't let the Judge know that you have kept them waiting"
Judge reins in police over horse-cart phone charge 12:59, Thursday, 25 September 2003
SYDNEY, Sept 25 (Reuters) - An Australian judge has thrown out a case against a man caught using a mobile phone while driving a horse and carriage, saying police who brought the charges "look a bit silly", a newspaper said on Thursday.
Melbourne's Magistrates Court heard that a police car with flashing lights pulled over coachman Dean Crichton as his horse-drawn carriage was travelling at about four km an hour (two mph) down a major Melbourne street in May.
The Herald Sun newspaper said police breath-tested Crichton for alcohol after he was caught with a phone in one hand and the reins in the other as he drove tourists in his two-horse carriage.
It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in most states in Australia.
Crichton pleaded guilty. His lawyer James Dowsley told the court Crichton was on a business call and said it was difficult to pull over a horse-drawn carriage quickly.
Magistrate Frank Jones said he believed Crichton was technically guilty of the offence but added that he thought a horse and carriage brought character to Melbourne's streets.
"The sooner you get back back up on your horse and cart and get the tourism dollar circulating in Melbourne the better," The Herald Sun quoted Jones as saying