Court Rejects Appeal by Phone-Using Driver
An appeals court upheld Monday a fine imposed on a 40-year-old driver caught using his mobile phone at an intersection.
The Cheongju District Court in North Chungcheong Province told the unidentified driver to pay the 60,000-won fine as ordered by the summary court.
According to court officials, the man talked on his phone while waiting for the light to change at an intersection in Cheongju in January. He was flagged down by a police officer and given a ticket for violating the Road Traffic Act.
"Though the accused insists that he only used his mobile phone while waiting for the signal to change at an intersection, the evidence shows that he initiated the call while making a stop at the red light," the judge said.
The pertinent regulation prohibits using cellular phones while driving, except in an emergency or while stopped.