Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A 'free trip' in a car that was left for works to be effected proved costly for a St James mechanic when he was hauled to court and fined after he was caught violating traffic laws.

Ricardo Clarke, 20, from Montego Bay, was fined $17,000 and was also disqualified from driving for the next 12 months.

Clarke pleaded guilty to disobeying a stop sign, having no driver's licence and having no insurance coverage when he appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court. on Friday.

The court heard that on June 10, the police was travelling behind a black Nissan Sunny motor car. On reaching the traffic signal at the intersection of Howard Cooke Boulevard and Bevin Avenue in Montego Bay, the lawmen observed the driver disobeying the red light.

The police waited for the green light and pursued the car. When the police caught up with the car, the accused told him that he did not have a licence.

The accused told the police, "Mek mi tell yu di truth; is work mi just work pon di car and mi a tek a likkle trip before the owner come back."

He was fined $10,000 for having no driver's licence; $5,000 for disobeying the stop sign and $2, 000 for no insurance coverage. If the fines are not paid he will spend three months in prison.