Driver thought he was insured by using trade plates

A one month driving ban was imposed on a 54-year- old man last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court for a no insurance offence.

Dermot Teggart, Gowandale Drive, Banbridge, was also fined £150 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard that on February 7 this year at 3.40pm on the Ballygowan Road, police checked a vehicle and there was no insurance shown against it.

They spoke to the defendant who was driving and he said he was on his way to an MOT appointment. He was driving with trade plates and thought he was covered.

Teggart already had six points on his licence. His solicitor said those points were for permitting no insurance relating to his son.

He explained Teggart was using trade plates but because there were no employees with him he was not insured.

The solicitor added that if he received another six points he would be disqualified for six months on the tot up system.

He said that the defendant worked as a delivery driver for Tesco and asked the court to impose a shorter ban rather than the six points.

“It was not a case of a callous disregard for the insurance laws,” said the solicitor.

Imposing the one month ban District Judge Eamonn King said he accepted the

defendant was ‘very nearly insured’ on this occasion.

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