RNLI man allowed to keep driving after being caught with mobile

Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz said that she was prepared to make an exception to normal court policy due to Danny Stephen White’s work with the RNLI.

Instead the 33-year-old, who admitted holding a mobile phone while driving, was fined £350 and had his licence endorsed.

Centenier Amanda Wright said that White was spotted looking at his phone as he drove a light commercial vehicle along Route des Quennevais on the afternoon of 11 July.

The Magistrate’s Court heard he was looking down as he drove towards the pedestrian crossing by Waitrose.

The defendant had a previous conviction for a mobile phone offence in 2015.

Advocate Julian Gollop, defending, said that White was a ‘public spirited’ individual who needed his licence to be able to respond to emergency lifeboat call-outs.

He added that his client also needed his licence for work.

‘His job is fencing and shed building and he needs to go from his home in St Helier to his work in St Martin. He also needs to drive while working,’ he said.

Advocate Gollop said that White had taken steps to ensure that there was no repetition, as he had bought a car with a bluetooth system and when he used his work van he put his phone on silent
and did not touch it until he stopped.

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