Teenager who drove an unlicensed motorbike and refused police direction to stop is fined more than $5000

A teen who rode an unlicensed motorcycle while in the wrong classification and refused to stop for police when requested, has been fined more than $5000. Nathan David Watts, 18, entered an endorsed plea of guilty to Katanning Magistrates Court on February 17 for driving without authority (wrong class), driving an unlicensed vehicle and failing to comply with a direction to stop by police. Watts did not appear in court for his hearing and was not represented by a lawyer. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court that on December 10 Watts was driving a Honda motorcycle on Albany Highway near Blackwood Road in Kojonup when police directed him to stop at 9.25am. Sgt Walker said police had noticed Watts’ vehicle did not have any registration plates, leading them to signal him to pull over. He said Watts refused to obey and rode away from police, heading towards the Kojonup campsite where police lost sight of his vehicle. Later that day police attended Watts’ home where he admitted it was his motorcycle and it was revealed he did not have a licence in the correct class to drive it. Watts also admitted to ignoring the direction given by police that morning. Magistrate Rosemarie Myers said the law stated the minimum fine for failing to comply with a direction to stop was $5000, unless the charge included escaping police pursuit, which Watts’ offending did not. Ms Myers sentenced him with the minimum fine of $5000, plus costs of $308, and Watts’ driver’s licence was disqualified for two years. For the other two charges, Watts was fined $150.