Welsh Rugby Star in Golf Buggy Drink Drive Charge

28 year old Andy ‘Brain-dead’ Powell was reportedly arrested by South Wales Police and charged with “driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink” under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Powell was found drunk driving a Golf Buggy near junction 3 on the M4.

Powell, 28, was taken into custody before 6am at a motorway service station three miles from the club’s national hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan. The back-row forward had reportedly taken the 15mph vehicle after an all night drinking binge with his teammates and driven it down the hard shoulder of the motorway in order to find food as the hotel was not serving breakfast until 7am.

“Powell has been suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct”. A representative for the Welsh Rugby Union has stated.

The news has re-sparked at discussion as to what constitutes a mechanically propelled vehicle as this legal grey area is up for interpretation when prosecution is concerned. There is no strict alcohol limit for these vehicles which leaves the definition of ‘unfit’ to speculation.

Driving lawyer to the stars, Nick Freeman a.k.a ‘Mr Loophole’ has commented on the vague boundaries surrounding the incident and how they could work in Powell’s favour.

Powell risks losing his driving licence along with a hefty fine but some argue that crimes committed in one vehicle category should not affect your licence for another; with the right legal aid the rugby star could get off the hook but will most likely need a strong defence case.

Should the legal grey areas be exploited Powell could avoid prosecution for drink driving and instead face a lesser charge of theft for which he was not originally arrested.

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