A man who was hauled before the court to answer a charge of failure to conform to a sign had the charge against him dismissed when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday last. Particulars of the charge stated that, while driving HB 2767, taxi operator Patrick Joseph failed to confirm to a sign on the Mon Repos Public Road, ECD on Saturday 1st December.
 
In his defence, Joseph explained that he was taking his wife home from the Balwant Singh Hospital, since she had a major surgery performed on her just days earlier. Upon approaching the Mon Repos market, he pulled over to get some calaloo; and while doing so, a police rank came up and requested him to drive to the police station.

Joseph said he tried to explain his situation to the rank, and even offered to show the rank all the documentation to substantiate his claims; but all his pleas fell on deaf ears.

He alleges that the policeman told him the situation was of no concern to police if his wife had indeed just come out of hospital because of surgery.

The said rank subsequently arrested and charged Joseph for the offense; but Magistrate Moore, expressing concern about the rank’s conduct and lack of consideration for Joseph’s situation at the said time, deemed the charge was vexatious, and dismissed the matter against the defendant.