A Portadown man who did not stop for police who were wearing high vis coats has been fined £100.
Court heard the 20-year-old claimed that he did not know it was the police as their vehicle was not parked clearly and walkers often frequented this road wearing high vis clothing.
Jordan Robinson, of Cloncarrish Road, pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Court heard that on December 21, at around 11.20pm, police were conducting a checkpoint in the Portadown area.
The police vehicle was in plain sight and the officers were wearing high vis coats.
As the defendant’s car approached police signalled for it to stop using a torch but instead, he sped up and passed them.
Details were noted of the car and police attended the nearby address to which it was registered.
However, upon arrival the vehicle was not seen outside the property.
Investigations led officers to Robinson and on January 9 they spoke with him about the incident.
The defendant admitted to being the driver of the car on the night in question.
He claimed that many people walked the roads in high vis and he had mistaken the police for these people.
Defence barrister David McKeown stated: “This was a dark winter’s night; he would not normally drive in these conditions, but he had been called by friends to give them a lift home.
“He passed a crossing junction and he still maintains the police vehicle was not clearly parked.”
Robinson was ordered to pay a fine of £100, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within four weeks.
