Teen Fined $500: Using Phone While Riding
In Magistrates Court this morning [Jan.24], 18-year-old Elijah Dublin was one of the first people to appear in Court under the guidelines of the new legislation.
He pleaded guilty to riding whilst using a hand-held device, which resulted in a $500 fine being levied by Senior Magistrate Archie Warner.
The evidence read out to the Magistrate was that on 6th January, in Flatt’s Village, Police had observed Mr Dublin riding a motorcycle whilst using an iPhone, and had stopped him.
After a routine Police check, it also transpired that he was riding whilst disqualified. Mr Dublin pleaded guilty to this second charge.
The Senior Magistrate warned Mr Dublin that disobeying the Court by riding whilst disqualified by an order of the Court was a very serious offence and one for which he could be sent to jail.
For this second offence, Mr Dublin was fined another $500.
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Wow $1000.00 fine, who will pay that fine. An iphone, why does and 18 year old need an expensive phone like that.
my 13 yr old nephew got a BB…..for what? And he ain’t done nothing special to deserve it either. My daughter had a POC (plain ole cellphone)to stay in touch with us…… shame on all parents that give unearned perks to their kids, including my Bro and Sis-in-law.
FYI: He was listening to his iPod whilst riding his bike NOT using an iPhone or anyother cell phone… There is a distinct difference. Yes – he was riding whilst disqualified and deserves the fine imposed.
“He pleaded guilty to riding whilst using a hand-held device, which resulted in a $500 fine being levied by Senior Magistrate Archie Warner.”
iPod … iPhone … iPad … doesn’t matter. Still fined $500 for using a hand-held device while riding.
There is a difference, but only a small one. This recent law change included no listening to music while riding (someone correct me if I’m wrong). Additional info: if you’re riding on the road while disqualified, you really should try to follow the law a bit more…
one change to what you said, in the law they didnt say you can not listen to music while riding, they clearly stated in the new legislation that you can “use” any sort of hand-held device.
Why do we have such a huge fine for this offense? This fine is more than a speeding ticket….yet speeding is what really kills.
This should be a $100 fine….really
Really this is just as big a killer!! When people are distracted by all of these devices they pay less attention to the road which can have the same outcome. And some doing this nonsense while speeding as well!
There goes the chance of Mr. Dublin ever having respect for the Bermuda Police Force and/or the Court System.
Or maybe that will just teach him to buy a car, kit it out with speakers and play music as loud as he can knowing he won’t be pulled over for it.
You must mean the respect he had when he was riding while disqualified…
And they probably disqualified him for going 57kmh lmao
If he’s so unaware of the laws/current events it’s hardly surprising that he’s also dumb enough to ride while disqualified. I’m amazed he even had insurance !
I just wish the police could have nailed the three little road warriors that deliberately tried to pick me off yesterday . The last one was going so fast over Somerset Bridge his bike went airborn for 10 feet.
Or this morning , the total fool who flew past me on the inside just as I was about to indicate a left turn ..
And CYSMN … the fine is $500 maybe because your government is broke .
I second that!!! Broke Blokes, lets burn emm!!! Governmnt is broke and need every red cent they can get their sticker fingers on..
Yes they are broke and it may be because of that but if you impose some stupid little fine no one ever learns!! how many people go to court on a weekly or monthly basis and pay $100 and $200 fines and still go back out and do the same dumb crap!
I don’t know about them but i am not trying to give government my hard earned money that easily!
He can’t be the dog on the track. He rides a bike while disqualified & uses the device when he knows full well that the BPS is on a crack down on such things.
Should have fined him more for being so stupid. If you are going to ride while diqualified it does not take much to figure that it would be best not to do anything that will attract attention to yourself.
Too hasty: Should be Can’t be the FASTEST dog on the track.
el
Is there a place that you can view the stats on Bermudas road traffic accidents and probable causes. Some of these laws are are a waste of my time, money, and freedom.
#1- Tint- Legal tint…jeez….Why cant we have tint, I dont understand….if its because the police want to see who is in the car too fkn bad, welcome to a free world. Find another way to police. Is it because at night it is so dark the driver cant see through their own tint, nope, thats what lights are for. Can dark tint cause accidents, I think not, stupid people cause accidents. Tint gives privacy, UV protection, and strengthens glass so it wont shatter on my kids when I get into an accident. Tint stops the police from looking into a car….you wanna look in a car, pull them the fk over and stick your pokey head in the door. Pass a new law, if you have dark tint, the police can pull you over to look inside your car whenever they want. Im not doing anything wrong, so bring it on.Just give me dark tint.
#2 – Seatbelts – This should be left to you and you should not have to pay fines. We are not stupid, buckle up and be safe, or hit your face and die. I would change my mind Im sure if the stats on Bermudas road accidents point to safer Bermuda now that we have seat belt laws. Are there that many less kids coming in with broken limbs because they are in these car seats. Doubt it. Are you safer in a belt yes, are you stupid for not wearing one, yes, but to be fined for it, get real.
#3 Cell phones – I dont sit behind a desk all day, I drive to multiple jobs all day now I cant answer my phone driving. I could hold two phones with one hand and have two conversations going 49k in reverse. Now I have to spend money and get something installed to avoid fines. I suppose I can deal with this cause its for the greater good Im sure, but where will it stop, can I have a radio, should I pull over to clean my windshield, pull over to wind down a window, pull over to take a sip of my drink….where will it end……maybe we should all connect our cars to the buses and they can pull us around.
Stats on the causes of accidents in Bermuda would make me understand the reasons why we change our laws.
ONE LAW TO CHANGE – No stopping in the middle of the road to let someone out of an entrance. Make them wait until an opening presents itself. If you are going to stop to let someone out, turn on your hazard lights, because thats what you are. A HAZARD. Fine people for that not doing business on the phone while relaxing in their tint trying to keep the UV rays off so they dont get skin cancer. Show me the stats so I can eat my words.
My friend this is PLP goverment more money for me,me,me to squander they will soon start chargin for the air we breath!!!!
Point 1…tint ) As a biker I need to know that the car coming out of the exit/gate I’m approaching is actually looking at me. The standard of driving is so atrocious on this island that I need all the help I can get. Other drivers need to know that they driver of that car with the black windows is actually looking at them.
And if window tint , the way you want it , was really as good as you think it is then manufacturers like Mercedes and Porsche would have it on all their cars as they left the factory.
Point 2 … seatbelts ) Kind of agree .. it should be up to the disgression of the driver ..maybe ..
Point 3 … Cellphones ) WRONG ! Hang up and drive .. Cell phones are a distraction , period ! I don’t care how good you think you are , if your yakking on a phone behind the wheel you are not drivng as safely as if you would be if you were just driving. Look at the things people do while on the phone ..they come over into my lane , they can’t regulate their speed , I even saw someone in Hamilton once miss THREE changes of the traffic light while on the phone. We all see this everywhere so it IS a serious distraction.
Letting people out of gates … Agree !
If you were far enough behind the car with tint you would have time to react. WHat do you do when you are behind a bus or large truck,…..you do nothing but wait for the bus to pull over at a stop of wait for the truck to turn unless you dont like your life and wish to try and pass…..
Cell phones…well some people cant drive let alone talk on the phone and drive so Ill give you that but I can talk on the phone all day and theres never anyone in my rear mirror. Drinking hot coffee or even old people peeing in their diapers is a distraction, taking a business call is not a distraction to me but I can clearly see how those of us are awfull at multi-tasking..
If a minister does not have 30 or more experience in their ministry then they have to leave…..Would you leave you kids in the hands of a strange teenager….or a capable adult thats already raised children and is successfull….The answer to me is clear. Would you take a fisherman and put him in an air plane…..NOPE….similar but not the best…both catians, both can navigate both are leaders …but clear differences which we seem to blame on the Bermuda Triagle….nope. its are own dam fault…..Ministers should be financially stable enough and SERVE this country with no PAY. Case closed
I agree with you on the tinting law and seatbelts…when it comes to the cell phone issue, I would agree if hadn’t been privy to driving behind someone who was on their phone driving like an 86 yr old lady (no offense to our seniors)who drives like she riding a horse n carraige. The option of using blue tooth is a great alternative.
it is a great and safe alternative that one can choose to buy but should not be forced to. And to be fined on a cellphone going 35kph….The rest of the world must giggle when they hear “Bermuda, with a 35kph speed limit, has banned the use of handheld devices and will be handing out 500 dollar fines because their citizens are not competent enough to drive and talk on a cell phone while driving 35kph.And to add insult to injury, the speed limit is 25kph within City limits….hahah…..should be in the”well I never column” from where I sit