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02/11/2007
Minister Pays Price For Mobile Call
The Home Office Minister, Liam Byrne has been found guilty of breaking the law by driving while on his mobile phone.
The Immigration Minister told Sutton Coldfield Magistrates' Court in a letter that he was taking an important call on a deportation matter at the time, but has pleaded guilty to the charge of using a mobile phone while driving.
The 37-year-old Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and a former police minister has been fined £100 with £335 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He was also given three points on his licence.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said Mr Byrne should have known better.
Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety, said: "The Home Office is responsible for the law and its ministers should be well aware of it and set the correct example.
"Far too many lives have been lost needlessly because of mobile phone calls and whether you are on a hand-held or a hands-free phone you are four times more likely to crash."
Mr Clinton added: "It is good to see him being treated in the same way as other motorists and it shows that people who flout this important law do get caught and punished.
"Enforcement is vital, with more than 126,000 people being penalised for the offence in 2005," he said.
(BMcC)
The Immigration Minister told Sutton Coldfield Magistrates' Court in a letter that he was taking an important call on a deportation matter at the time, but has pleaded guilty to the charge of using a mobile phone while driving.
The 37-year-old Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and a former police minister has been fined £100 with £335 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He was also given three points on his licence.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said Mr Byrne should have known better.
Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety, said: "The Home Office is responsible for the law and its ministers should be well aware of it and set the correct example.
"Far too many lives have been lost needlessly because of mobile phone calls and whether you are on a hand-held or a hands-free phone you are four times more likely to crash."
Mr Clinton added: "It is good to see him being treated in the same way as other motorists and it shows that people who flout this important law do get caught and punished.
"Enforcement is vital, with more than 126,000 people being penalised for the offence in 2005," he said.
(BMcC)
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