Driver Cleared Of Riverdance Charge

Tue, 06 May 2008 Courtesy of: Ananova

A motorist has won a four-year battle to clear his name after he was fined £30 for playing Riverdance too loud on his car stereo.

Markus Aitken, 33, of Rochdale, was given a ticket for "causing excessive noise" after pulling over in his Ford Mustang to ask the woman officer for directions.

He refused to pay the fine and and was then faced with a string of written demands and six visits from bailiffs, reports the Daily Telegraph.

By the time his case was eventually heard at Bury Magistrates' Court the debt had increased to £270.

Mr Aitken told District Judge Alan Berg: "It's not that I couldn't afford to pay the fine. It's a matter of principle."

When he began to explain, the judge interrupted, saying: "I'm going to cut you short. In view of what I've heard, I am going to wipe the debt out".

Afterwards Mr Aitken, a recovery driver, recalled: "I was absolutely stunned when the police officer asked me if I thought the music was a bit noisy.

"I told her 'No, not really'. Next thing she asked me to get out of the car and into her police vehicle. Then she promptly activated the door-locking mechanism while she told my details.

"I asked her whether she didn't like Riverdance, and the reaction I got made me think not".

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said tickets were issued in situations where officers believed noise could be avoided by the exercise of reasonable care.