News: Motorist fined £30 for playing 'Riverdance' 'too loudly' is cleared

Westcountryman · 06-05-2008, 05:24 PM

A motorist has won a four-year battle to clear his name after he was fined £30 for playing Riverdance too loud on his car stereo.

Markus Aitken, 33, of Rochdale, was given a ticket for "causing excessive noise" after pulling over in his Ford Mustang to ask the woman officer for directions.

He refused to pay the fine and and was then faced with a string of written demands and six visits from bailiffs, reports the Daily Telegraph.

By the time his case was eventually heard at Bury Magistrates' Court the debt had increased to £270.

Mr Aitken told District Judge Alan Berg: "It's not that I couldn't afford to pay the fine. It's a matter of principle."

When he began to explain, the judge interrupted, saying: "I'm going to cut you short. In view of what I've heard, I am going to wipe the debt out".

Afterwards Mr Aitken, a recovery driver, recalled: "I was absolutely stunned when the police officer asked me if I thought the music was a bit noisy.

"I told her 'No, not really'. Next thing she asked me to get out of the car and into her police vehicle. Then she promptly activated the door-locking mechanism while she told my details.

"I asked her whether she didn't like Riverdance, and the reaction I got made me think not".

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said tickets were issued in situations where officers believed noise could be avoided by the exercise of reasonable care.

Source: Police News - Driver Cleared Of Riverdance Charge

g hall · 06-05-2008, 05:29 PM

Couldn't they get him under rubbish taste then

youcanhandlethetruth · 08-05-2008, 05:41 AM

Unbeleivable !

Just shows the police will try to stich you up for anything they can....

Scumbags.

Smidgey · 08-05-2008, 09:04 AM

Another one to add to the list...

Earthling · 11-05-2008, 10:58 PM

Due to stupid targets imposed by the Government the police seem to be crazy about petty crimes like this, it is getting as bad as Russia under Soviet Communism

Westcountryman · 11-05-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

Due to stupid targets imposed by the Government the police seem to be crazy about petty crimes like this, it is getting as bad as Russia under Soviet Communism

To be honest this is not something I would consider to be a 'crime'.

Earthling · 11-05-2008, 11:28 PM

I agree, it isn't a crime, just shoddy wording on my behalf

Westcountryman · 11-05-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

I agree, it isn't a crime, just shoddy wording on my behalf

Sorry, just me being picky.

Roland · 12-05-2008, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

Due to stupid targets imposed by the Government the police seem to be crazy about petty crimes like this, it is getting as bad as Russia under Soviet Communism

I think they are desperate to raise money taxation has basically peaked Gordon Brown has put us up the butt in debt and he now needs to find money to pay for it.

A friend of mine recently got a £30 fine for having his fog lights on after he accidentally flicked the switch the police man who pulled him over said he new it was stupid but he'd been given a quoter.

youcanhandlethetruth · 15-05-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland

I think they are desperate to raise money taxation has basically peaked Gordon Brown has put us up the butt in debt and he now needs to find money to pay for it.

A friend of mine recently got a £30 fine for having his fog lights on after he accidentally flicked the switch the police man who pulled him over said he new it was stupid but he'd been given a quoter.

That's exactly how the game works.

Government set up a system whereby the police have to hit their targets, or else they "underperform".

What the police need to realize is that the government are screwing them too - destroying their currency, sterilizing their children, floridizing their water and stealing their pension funds.

But I have some sympathy - what can they do ?
Find another job I suppose......

06-05-2008, 05:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,827 Party: None	Motorist fined £30 for playing 'Riverdance' 'too loudly' is cleared A motorist has won a four-year battle to clear his name after he was fined £30 for playing Riverdance too loud on his car stereo. Markus Aitken, 33, of Rochdale, was given a ticket for "causing excessive noise" after pulling over in his Ford Mustang to ask the woman officer for directions. He refused to pay the fine and and was then faced with a string of written demands and six visits from bailiffs, reports the Daily Telegraph. By the time his case was eventually heard at Bury Magistrates' Court the debt had increased to £270. Mr Aitken told District Judge Alan Berg: "It's not that I couldn't afford to pay the fine. It's a matter of principle." When he began to explain, the judge interrupted, saying: "I'm going to cut you short. In view of what I've heard, I am going to wipe the debt out". Afterwards Mr Aitken, a recovery driver, recalled: "I was absolutely stunned when the police officer asked me if I thought the music was a bit noisy. "I told her 'No, not really'. Next thing she asked me to get out of the car and into her police vehicle. Then she promptly activated the door-locking mechanism while she told my details. "I asked her whether she didn't like Riverdance, and the reaction I got made me think not". A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said tickets were issued in situations where officers believed noise could be avoided by the exercise of reasonable care. Source: Police News - Driver Cleared Of Riverdance Charge __________________ the cake is a lie. the cake is a lie. the cake is a lie. the cake is a lie. Last edited by Westcountryman; 06-05-2008 at 05:26 PM.

06-05-2008, 05:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,765	Couldn't they get him under rubbish taste then __________________ "That government is best which governs least." "This is a sharp Medicine, but it is a Physician for all diseases and miseries". "To be "matter of fact" about the world is to blunder into fantasy --and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful."

08-05-2008, 05:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
youcanhandlethetruth Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,661	Unbeleivable ! Just shows the police will try to stich you up for anything they can.... Scumbags. __________________ Before tyranny and television, "conspiracy theorists" never existed. cointelpro/halfwits: Akria,Clippo,Besoeker,Bear,Eurosceptic Antlantacist,MikeUK

08-05-2008, 09:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Smidgey Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2,094 Party: Libertarian Party	Another one to add to the list... __________________ How vain is man, who boasts in fight the valour of gigantic might! -Georg Friedrich Händel

11-05-2008, 10:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Earthling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 240 Party: UKIP	Due to stupid targets imposed by the Government the police seem to be crazy about petty crimes like this, it is getting as bad as Russia under Soviet Communism __________________ Earthling's Blog Don't let EU rule Britannia! Vote UKIP and say NO to Brussels Bureaucracy.

11-05-2008, 11:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Earthling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 240 Party: UKIP	I agree, it isn't a crime, just shoddy wording on my behalf __________________ Earthling's Blog Don't let EU rule Britannia! Vote UKIP and say NO to Brussels Bureaucracy.

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