A taxi driver, who obstructed a garda by failing to hand over his driving licence and recorded the incident on his mobile phone was fined €500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Abram Mabasa (39 ), with an address at 8 Maigh Riocaird, Headford Road, appeared at Galway District Court last Monday charged with obstructing Sgt Brendan Moore in the course of his duties at Bridge Street, on April 11, 2009.
Sgt Moore gave evidence that there had been a trail of taxis that had parked on double yellow lines, causing difficulties for traffic. Sgt Moore said that a number of the taxis dispersed but the defendant pulled his vehicle out and stopped in the middle of the road and “just sat there”. He was “non responsive” to Sgt Moore’s directions and failed to hand over his driving licence despite being asked to do so at least six times.
Sgt Moore also noticed that Mabasa had been making a recording on his mobile phone. Mabasa was told to desist from doing so at least eight times but he ignored the request. Meanwhile traffic had been backed up along Dominick Street and Sgt Moore was left with no option but to arrest Mabasa and convey him to Galway Garda Station.
Under cross-examination by defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn Sgt Moore said that he did eventually get the driving licence. The court also heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Mr MacLynn said that his client, a South African national, was married with three children and has been a taxi driver for the last few years.
The defendant then tried to explain that he had been coming from Salthill and had not been in the queue of taxis which had parked on the double yellow lines.
“I have to disqualify him because of his attitude to Sgt Moore and his general arrogance on that day,” said Judge Mary Fahy.
