A Prince George man's attempt to circumvent a driving prohibition by riding a bicycle outfitted with a gas-powered engine has fallen on the wrong side of the law.
Blaine Stanly Lorntsen was issued a further one-year driving prohibition as well as a $500 fine in Prince George Provincial Court on Friday for driving while prohibited under the Motor Vehicle Act.
An RCMP member pulled over Lornsten on July 22, 2012 when he was seen riding without a helmet, the court was told.
The trouble escalated when the officer noticed the bike was powered by a gas-fueled engine that was started by turning the pedals.
A pedal bike with a power-assisting engine remains a bicycle, the court was told, as long as the motor is electrical and there is a chain connecting the pedals to one of the wheels.
In passing sentence, Judge Victor Galbraith accepted that Lorntsen made an honest mistake but also warned him that a further violation could result in jail time.
