A Muskoka man’s decision not to bring his pedals while out an e-bike came back to bite him in court recently.
Appearing in a Bracebridge courtroom, Randy Stokes, 57, pleaded guilty to driving while prohibited.
Court heard that Stokes had been riding an e-bike with a missing tail light in Port Carling when he was pulled over by police.
The police determined that Stokes was a disqualified driver. In 2012 he was convicted of impaired driving and lost his license for five years. However, since he had failed to take the necessary steps to make his license valid again he was still considered disqualified.
There was some discussion in the courtroom regarding what constitutes a vehicle.
Ultimately, Crown Attorney W. Barnes said although Stokes was technically on an e-bike, the pedals were not attached at the time making him a disqualified driver under the criminal code.
The defence said although the pedals were not installed at the time, they are still in Stokes’s possession and will be reinstalled.
Stokes was sentenced to a $1,000 fine and a one-year driving ban.
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That’s called “kicking somebody when he is down.” And a total overreach of the law.