£1,000 fine for motorcyclist who "undermined" police

Friday 16 February 2018

A motorcyclist who failed to stop, ran over a yellow 'give way' line and drove without a valid licence has been handed a £1,000 fine.

Michael Morton McBride, from Glasgow, appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with the three motoring offences.

McBride (25) pleaded guilty to failing to give way at a yellow line resulting in a police car having to make an emergency stop, as well as failing to stop on Georgetown Road when a police officer tried to pull him over on 1 December 2017. He was driving with an out-of-date provisional motorbike licence as it had expired the day before. 

Despite using emergency equipment to try and stop McBride, the police didn't pursue him. He was later arrested at his home when police identified the black jacket and white and grey helmet they had seen him wearing and found his bike nearby. 

Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, told the court that McBride "was aware the licence had expired but had intention to get a car provisional licence but didn't get round to it."

"He accepts that it was a silly decision to take the bike and this is the reason he panicked and he should have stopped," added Advocate Dale.

Magistrate Bridget Shaw told McBride: "Driving off really undermines the work of the police and could result in a serious accident if they decided to follow you, fortunately they chose not to pursue you." 

Having heard that McBride has only had a job since November and is soon to become a father, Magistrate Shaw said the £1,000 fine is "proportionate to your circumstances." She acknowledged that McBride was making an effort to sort his life out after getting out of prison but warned him: "that is £1,000 which could have been better spent."