Judge issues warning to Dublin taxi driver clocked at 152km/h on Wicklow motorway
The Wicklow PeopleA judge warned a taxi driver he could have faced jail after gardaí caught him speeding at 152km/h on a Wicklow motorway.
Bhekinkosi Omega Shabangu, with an address in Dublin, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court for speeding in excess of the 100 km/h limit.
The defendant was stopped by gardaí after driving at 152 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on a motorway in Co. Wicklow.
The court heard that Mr Shabangu has two previous convictions for road traffic offences. He has two children, aged 12 and 17, and uses his vehicle for school runs, household shopping, and work purposes.
Counsel for the defence, Ciara O’Brien BL, informed the court that her client is a taxi driver and now holds his chauffeur licence. The court was told that Mr Shabangu believed he had been driving at 120 km/h.
It was heard that the offence occurred at 7:40 am on a Sunday morning, when the defendant was on his way to pick up a client in Co. Waterford.
Judge David Kennedy questioned what rush Mr Shabangu had been in and noted that, due to his profession, he should know better.
Judge Kennedy said: “We can see recently in the news, such as the crash in Dundalk, what can happen when driving at high speeds.”
He added: “I would have done you with dangerous driving and sentenced you to a custodial term.”
Mr Shabangu was fined €750 and given six months to pay.