Welsh international Rugby player Andy Powell has been arrested by South Wales police after being caught drink driving a Golf Buggy taken from the team hotel in which he was staying. The player was charged for “driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink” under the road traffic act 1988.
Powell, a 28 year old back-row forward was arrested after reportedly on a drunken mission to find food as his hotel had not started serving breakfast. The Golf Buggy, with a top speed of 15mph, was taken from outside of the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel in which he was staying.
A Welsh Rugby Union statement read “Powell has been suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct”.
Athletes are known for evading driving offences but there is a very real grey area in the circumstances of this arrest as laws for ‘mechanically propelled vehicles’ is not clearly defined. Defence lawyers could argue that although Powell was drunk, there are no strict limits for consumption when operating anything other than a motor vehicle.
Nick Freeman, commonly known as ‘Mr Loophole’ commented that “this could lead to an anomaly where someone is driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, which is not a motor vehicle, whilst over the prescribed limit”.
Although Powell is due in court on March 2nd, it is unclear whether the prosecution will stick with such vague legal boundaries and it could be argued that he broke no law with his driving licence.
Despite the bright outlook for Powell in regards to his drink driving offence, for which he is due in court on 2nd march, he could still be charged for the theft of the golf buggy from the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel if they choose to press charges but there is no comment on the matter so far.
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