25-year-old Richmond driver gets driving ban, drives home from courthouse

A 25-year-old Richmond resident is facing additional charges for failing to obey a judge’s six-month ban from going behind the wheel – within moments of leaving the courthouse.

According to the Richmond News, the young new driver was caught by police on April 11, 2013 speeding through a residential neighbourhood.

Earlier this week, he pleaded guilty to nine traffic violations in Richmond court, including failing to stop for police, excessive speed, changing lanes without signalling, failing to obey a stop sign, failing to signal on turn, failing to wear the seatbelt and failing to display his new driver sign.

Given the serious nature of the incident of irresponsible driving, the judge handed him a six-month long driving ban – a condition he immediately ignored when the hearing ended.

While he was leaving the courthouse, police noticed that he was holding a set of keys and suspected he could be planning to drive again despite the direct judge order.

As it turns out, the officers were right as they spotted the man returning home behind the wheel later in the day. He was promptly arrested for prohibited driving, the vehicle was impounded and another court date has been scheduled for March 12, 2015.

Under breach of prohibited driving circumstances, the man could now face a fine of between $500 to $2,000 with the possibility of imprisonment for up to six months. He could also be prohibited from driving for up to another 12 months.

Vehicles involved in prohibited driving instances are also impounded, even if the vehicle does not belong to the caught driver. A vehicle is impounded for 30 days for the first infraction.

Location of the Richmond Courthouse.

Feature Image: Driving wheel via Shutterstock