Biker clocked travelling at 67kph over speed limit
Motorbike was clocked travelling at 147kph in an 80kph zone
A MOTORCYCLIST who admitted to travelling at 147kph in an 80kph zone managed to avoid losing his licence after his charge was reduced from dangerous driving to careless driving in Carlow District Court.
Tyrone Bowers was in court on a charge of driving dangerously on the N81 near Baltinglass on 1 June.
Garda Declan Martin Byrne told the court that he was operating a speed gun when he clocked Mr Bowers going past him at 147kph in an area where the speed limit was 80kph.
He continued that he pursued the biker and pulled him over at Saundersgrove, where he told him he was being arrested for dangerous driving.
Garda Byrne told Judge Geraldine Carthy that 35-year-old Mr Bowers acknowledged that he was speeding and that he was fully co-operative with the gardaí.
Mr Bowers contested the charge, with solicitor Joe Farrell defending him.
When Mr Farrell put it to Garda Byrne that there were other bikers around that day and asked if it was possible for the speed gun to pick up another biker’s speed instead of his client’s, Garda Byrne replied that the speed gun was always pointed towards a specific vehicle.
He said that it was “unmistakable” that it was the defendant who was riding the bike that day and that he’d admitted to speeding when he stopped him.
Mr Farrell then told Judge Carthy that if Mr Bowers lost his licence because of a mandatory driving ban under the Section 53 of the , “he would lose everything”.
He submitted to the judge to reduce the charge to the less serous one of careless driving and so spare Mr Bowers, Robertstown, Naas from being disqualified.
He also said that Mr Bowers has since sold the motorcycle and that his behaviour that day was “a moment of madness”.
Judge Carthy agreed to the submission and spared the biker a disqualification and fined him €750.
“He’s been very, very lucky,” said Mr Farrell.
