A man, whose driving license had been suspended, caught the attention of police officers for his unconventional choice of transportation during the morning rush hour – a bright pink Barbie toy car. He had borrowed the toy car from his roommate’s daughter, and the police later returned the Power Wheels Barbie Jeep Wrangler to its rightful owner instead of impounding it.
The man was arrested for driving against the law, received a 90-day driving ban, and is set to appear in court in December after failing two breathalyser tests that showed he was over the legal alcohol limit. The incident occurred on September 5th around 9 am when he was stopped by officers who deemed his presence on the road a hazard to both himself and other drivers.
In his defense, the man, identified as Kasper Lincoln, claimed he was on his way to purchase a slurpee and had just woken up when he decided to take the Barbie jeep for a spin, insisting he had not consumed any alcohol that morning. Despite his explanation that he thought driving the Barbie truck wouldn’t result in a DUI, the police disagreed with his justification.
According to local authorities in Prince George, British Columbia, the man’s actions were considered out of the ordinary and risky due to the busy morning traffic, posing a potential danger to other drivers. The media relations officer, Jennifer Cooper, stated that the toy car’s size and slow speed were unexpected for motorists, prompting the traffic stop.
After conducting a routine morning patrol, the police suspected the man of driving under the influence and administered two breath tests, both of which confirmed his impairment. As per Canadian law, any vehicle on public roads not solely powered by human effort requires a valid license and insurance, making the man’s use of the toy car a violation of his suspended license terms.
Furthermore, the authorities highlighted that the Barbie jeep’s limited speed and size forced other road users to adjust their routes and maneuver around the man, emphasizing the unsafe nature of his decision to drive the toy car.