Taxi driver fined for 'nudging' passing drunk with cab

Published on Thursday 4 September 2008 09:44

A TAXI driver, who had stopped to allow a drunk to cross the road, lost his patience and decided to help the man on his way by "nudging" him with the cab.

The drunk, however, fell against the taxi and two passing police officers ordered the cab to the side of the street.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, 42-year old Graeme Matson was fined 90 and had four penalty points added to his licence. Matson of Sighthill Drive, Edinburgh, had pleaded guilty previously to a charge of careless driving in George Street on January 26 this year. Sentence had been deferred for background reports.

Fiscal Depute, John Kirk, described the event as "a very unusual road traffic incident". At about 11 pm the police officers saw the drunk male near a pedestrian crossing in George Street. Matson stopped his cab to allow the man to cross. "The drunk was taking a great deal of time to use the crossing " said Mr Kirk. "The officers saw the taxi move forward in an attempt to nudge the pedestrian out of the way.

This was done on more than one occasion and the pedestrian fell against the taxi. The officers moved the drunk from the roadway and asked the taxi driver to pull over". While this was happening, the drunk made off. Matson told the officers: "I was trying to nudge him out the way".

Defence agent, Diane Moore, told Sheriff Alistair Noble that Matson had been a taxi driver for 16 years. If disqualified it would be difficult for him to support his wife and two children. Matson, she added, had no previous convictions. "The second it happened, he realised he was wrong and should not have done what he did" she said.

Fining Matson and endorsing his licence, Sheriff Noble said: "I don't think this is a matter for disqualification".