A woman who told police that it was legal to use your mobile whilst driving has been disqualified from driving for six months.
Court heard how the 29-year-old continued to take her call even after she had been pulled over by the officers.
Laura Toma, of Annagh Hill, Portadown pleaded guilty to using a mobile phone whilst driving and carrying a child under 14 in the front seat without a seat belt at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Wednesday.
It was heard that on March 7, at 1.15pm, police observed the defendant driving a Renault Clio on the Garvaghy Road, Portadown, with her mobile in her right hand.
Officers pulled up beside her and noted that the screen of the phone showed that a call was in process.
Police had to open the door of Toma’s vehicle to ask her to pull over into a car park.
The defendant continued her call whilst travelling there and when officers came to speak to her the call was still ongoing.
Police spoke to Toma, with the assistance of an interpreter, she admitted to using the mobile whilst driving but said that this was allowed in Portugal.
The defendant also informed the police that the child in the front seat of the car was not in a child seat and was just four years old.
Toma was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay a fine of £175, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within eight weeks.
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