International Law

Unsafe at any speed

An artist has beaten the ticket he received for “driving” a performance sculpture around Toronto. In fact, the vehicle (which goes by the name “Shared Propulsion Car” while on display) is a hollowed-out 1986 Buick Regal that operates Flintstone-style by pedal power. “It has no floor. No engine. No transmission. No signal lights. And . . . tea lights sit in place of light bulbs at the front.” Top speed is 15 km/h. The driver(s) were ticketed for operating an unsafe vehicle. “Not even close to being legal,” was one of the first comments made by the ticketing officer.

The case was dismissed, apparently with some hilarity in the courtroom. Though I have to say I have some problems with this result. Comparisons were made to rickshaws and Amish buggies, which also operate on roads, but I think there’s a big difference in that those vehicles don’t look like cars. And so we don’t expect them to act like cars. The Shared Propulsion Car sounds very dangerous, especially to the operators. I think it would be best if it were kept in a gallery and off the streets.

Full post as published by Criminal Review on April 04, 2008 (boomark / email).