Woman prosecuted for riding e-scooter in public says 'store shouldn't sell them'
A WOMAN brought before a court for riding an e-scooter in public without a licence or insurance said the store she bought it from 'shouldn't be allowed to sell them'.
Haley Bower, 37, was stopped by officers while riding the vehicle along the pavement on the A596 at Siddick at 10.30pm on March 7.
Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates' Court, said police spoke to the defendant and told her the e-scooter had to be road legal and licensed.
Ms Fee said it then became clear that Bower only had a provisional licence and there was no insurance for the vehicle being used in a public place.
Police could smell cannabis and a search was carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A small wrap of cannabis, a joint and a grinder were found.
The e-scooter was seized by police and Bower was reported for driving it without a licence and without insurance.
Bower, who was not legally represented, said: 'I didn't know I wasn't allowed to use the thing. They shouldn't be allowed to sell them in Halfords.
'I was driving up and down the lane. I didn't know it wasn't allowed.'
Bower, of Hillcrest, Northside. Workington, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance and possessing a Class B drug.
Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Mark Gear, said: 'There is a surge of people riding these e-scooters on pavements and things. There is some sympathy with you about how you got it from Halfords.
'We are here to protect other people.
'The reason for you having it is legitimate. In the wrong hands, people are being injured by them and the court has to take a view on that.
'You did take it outside the remit of your own land and we have to deal with that.'
Bower was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £64 victim surcharge. Her driving licence was endorsed with six points.
An order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.
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