A 24-year-old Polish man who, when he observed a Garda checkpoint in Bangor Erris, turned his car around, was before Belmullet District Court on Wednesday charged with having no insurance and for dangerous driving.
Garda Sean McHale was operating a Garda checkpoint around 8am on November 27 2009, when he observed a car turning around from the checkpoint. The car which was driven by Sebastian Kawonczyk, Apartment 1, Harbour View, Barrack Street, Belmullet, was followed as it made its way towards Belmullet.
Garda McHale observed the defendant, on two occasions, travel on the wrong side of the road while driving around right bends. Kawonczyk finally stopped. The car had no insurance displayed and the defendant was arrested for dangerous driving and the car was seized.
Solicitor Michael Bohan said that his client had only purchased the car a few weeks before the incident and the court heard that he now has insurance. As for driving on the wrong side of the road, Mr Bohan said that there was clear view of any oncoming traffic coming into the bends, with which the garda agreed.
Judge Seamus Hughes reduced the dangerous driving charge to careless driving and convicted and fined the defendant €250. The other dangerous driving charge was struck out and for not having insurance Kawonczyk was convicted and fined €250.
