DutchNews.nl - Magistrate tears up cat lover's traffic fine

Magistrate tears up cat lover's traffic fine

Monday 23 February 2009

A man who was fined €75 for not driving off at traffic lights because he would run over a cat has had his fine torn up by magistrates.

Cees Schuurmans refused to pay the fine, arguing he would have killed the animal which was crossing the road when the lights turned green. The police officer who handed out the ticket says he did not see the cat.

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Readers' comments

Well done to the magistrate for demonstrating common sense. To the police officer who is responsible for wasting tax-payers money... I bet you feel like a big man now eh?

By Deep Throat | February 23, 2009 3:09 PM

Finally - good news! I agree, well done to the magistrate! I would have given the 75 Euros to Cees if they had enforced the fine. Belachelijk.

By Kitty Kavey | February 23, 2009 5:00 PM

Looks like a joke to me cat is very smart/active species and I doubt that it was there, because it is hard to believe. They just run away with a small movement then how cannot it see a car that too a stopped car, which takes times to move light when light turn green.

By Shailesh | February 23, 2009 8:13 PM

Excellent news ! Common sense prevailed .

By kiki | February 24, 2009 7:49 AM

They should fine the police officer who gave out the fine for encouraging cruelty to animals.

And @Sailesh, a cat might be very smart and active, but they are also very unpredictable. It wouldn't be the first time one froze at the sight of a car moving towards it. So why take the risk of killing someones pet, if you can prevent it by simply waiting a few seconds?

By Coop | February 24, 2009 9:01 AM

Lucky the driver happened to be in Holland and not in the US. He might have been shot by the driver in the car behind for time wasting. The magistrate would have called it justifiable homicide.

By v.ramaswamy | February 26, 2009 6:14 AM