I was out with the boys heading towards the coast when I went to overtake a line of cars. Doing so, I nailed the throttle hard and the front wheel went airborne with the power. Thankfully I managed to get my foot on the back brake and bring it down again and I narrowly avoided hitting a car coming the other way, so no harm done.

The problem is I had overtaken an unmarked police car and they have nicked me for dangerous driving. I want to defend it on the basis the bike was new to me and therefore I couldn’t have known how powerful it was. What do you think?

Answer

Firstly, I think you are a muppet. Can’t you control your right hand? Why on earth did you nail the throttle?

I love riding bikes too but nearly hitting another road user because you pulled an uncontrolled wheelie is just not cricket I’m afraid.

In short, do you really want to defend the matter at court by saying you were riding a bike on the road that was too powerful for you to be able to control and that is why you pulled a wheelie? I think the bump protruding from your head after the court throws the book at you will take a while to go down.

In short, if the Crown proves you were pulling a wheelie on the road you will be found guilty of dangerous driving. At the very minimum you will be disqualified for 12 months. At worst… the court does have the power to lock you up for a maximum of two years. That is in addition to a maximum fine of £5000 – with court costs on top of that.

My advice in this situation would be to plead guilty at the earliest opportunity, put forward mitigation and try and obtain the most lenient sentence possible.

Andrew Prendergast

Motorcycle Monthly
www.motorcyclemonthly.co.uk
October 2013