An Exeter motorist caught by police using her phone for directions has been fined £1,000 but avoided a driving ban after she successfully argued her job could be at risk.
A 37-year-old woman was convicted of using her phone while driving after a trial at Exeter Magistrates’ Court, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
On May 3 last year, officers spotted Nicola Smillie, of Penry Road, Countess Wear, Exeter, using her phone while driving a VW campervan on the A30 in Okehampton.
Smillie, representing herself, said it was the first time she had used her campervan since it was converted, and that she was driving to Bude to go camping with friends.
“I was not using my phone to interact with it,” Smillie said. “I was using it for directions.”
For the offence, six penalty points were added to Smillie’s licence, on top of six existing points which took her to a tot-up.
A tot-up occurs when drivers accumulate 12 points on their licence within three years and leads to a minimum driving disqualification of six months.
The defendant applied for exceptional hardship against a driving ban, which was granted by magistrates.
Smillie argued that in her role as sales manager for a medical device manufacturer, she is required in the field, and a driving ban would compromise working relationships across 130 NHS hospitals.
Smillie was fined £1,000 and must also pay £300 in court costs as well as a victim surcharge of £400.
