HONG KONG: The 53-year-old minibus driver, whose wild antics to avoid a Mong Kok traffic tie up became a hit video on YouTube, got off with a virtual slap on the wrist at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court yesterday: a HK$500 fine and a six-month suspension of his driver license.

For Tse Chi-nang, it was the latest in a series of unintended consequences resulting from his decision to hurry on his way by driving onto a sidewalk just in front of a pedestrian, then maneuvering his minibus along the walkway to get around traffic in his way. Unfortunately for Tse, someone in a vehicle following his minibus had a video camera rolling for approximately a minute before his bad call. When that video hit YouTube in August, with the license number of the minibus clearly displayed, Tse was fired by the minibus company. That's the reason for the rather lenient sentence handed out in court yesterday after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of dangerous driving.

In mitigation, Tse admitted he had been negligent and that he understood he ought to bear legal liability.

He said he has completed a government driving improvement course designed to educate drivers in better road safety and good driving behavior.

Tse added that with the loss of his livelihood he has become mired in difficulties. He asked the magistrate for a short license suspension so he could find another job quickly and get back to work.

Tse's children also spoke on their father's behalf, pleading that their father had been careless but now was repentant. They told the court Tse was a good responsible father and has made the children his first priority after his marriage failed.

Magistrate Wahab Abu Bakar bin said he felt helpless over Tse's quandary. Disqualification from driving is mandatory under existing legislation. He levied the minimum fine and told Tse he could lodge an appeal if he was unwilling to accept it.

The fine for dangerous driving can run as high as HK$25,000, with up to three years in jail, and a disqualification from driving of not less than six months on a first conviction and not less than 18 months on a second or subsequent conviction.

Tse was convicted of careless driving five years ago. He did not answer reporters' questions as he left the court yesterday.

The video clip that ended Tse's minibus driving career was shot on August 6, when he ran into a traffic jam on Sai Yee Street near Argyle Street at around 7:40 pm.

Tse drove in front of a female pedestrian, and then carried on for about 10 meters along the pavement before returning to the road. A motorcyclist who made a similar detour along the pavement, Lau Kwok-keung, was also charged with dangerous driving. He will be in court for a hearing today.

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/22/2009 page1)