Driver Fined For Having Sip Of Water

...while stopped at traffic lights

A thirsty motorist has been fined £20 for sipping from a bottle of mineral water as she sat at red traffic lights.

Linda Smart could not believe it when she was stopped by police as she pulled away and was handed £20 ticket.

The incident comes just days after a Lancashire man was nicked by cops in Hampshire for eating a Kit Kat at the wheel.

Office worker Linda was stopped as she pulled away from the lights in her green VW Lupo."I was not even moving when I took a sip from the bottle,yet this policeman spotted me at the lights and decided I was not in control of my car.

"How can I be out of control if I'm not even moving? The lights were at red and I was stationary.I think the whole thing brings disgrace on the police force.

"It is little wonder so many crimes are committed every day if the police spend all their time on silly little things like this."

Although Linda still had the bottle in her hand as she pulled away,she says she did not take a drink from it when the car was in motion."I drove off and had the bottle in my hand as I changed out of first gear,but I put in straight down after that.I wasn't even going at ten miles per hour when this policeman decided to pull me over."

The officer told her she was failing to keep proper control of her car and could either go to court,which could result in four penalty points and a £200 fine,or opt for an on the spot fine of £20.

She said "It's just laughable when I think of all the other things people do in their cars from lighting a cigarette to changing a cassette.It is ridiculous to suggest I wasn't in control of the car.I cannot believe it."

She says she is going to refuse to pay the fine and instead opt to take the matter to court."I have discussed it with my husband and we have decided it is a matter of principle.They may slap me with a bigger fine and four points,but I am hoping the courts will realise just how ridiculous the situation is."

A police spokeswoman said "A fixed penalty ticket was issued to a motorist who,in the judgement of a police officer,was not in proper control of a moving vehicle."