"Selfish and foolish" teen moped rider carried passenger after drinking

Saturday 04 November 2023

An 18-year-old moped rider has admitted riding his vehicle moped while over the legal limit – and carrying a passenger who didn't wear a crash helmet.

The Magistrate’s Court also heard that Oscar McPhee did not have a valid licence or insurance for the vehicle. He was banned from the roads for a year and fined a total of £2,100.

St Helier Centenier Paul Davies said McPhee was seen riding his grey Honda moped on Trinity Hill just after midnight on 2 September and stopped him because his passenger was not wearing a helmet.

Officers noticed he seemed to be swaying as he spoke to them and he was arrested. A breath test showed he had 47 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood – above the 35 micrograms legal maximum.

McPhee also consented to a blood test, which gave a reading of 98 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Pictured: McPhee also did not have a valid licence or insurance for the vehicle, the Magistrate's Court heard.

Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke told McPhee: “What you chose to do on that evening was selfish and foolish.

"You took a passenger when you had been drinking. There could have been serious repercussions.”

He fined him £1,000 for riding the moped while over the limit, £1,000 for having no licence or insurance and £100 for carrying a passenger without a helmet.

He will also have to retake the driving test after the ban has elapsed.