By Alexander Bruzual Thursday, December 24 2009

For “washing a car ”on a public street, a father of one was arrested and brought before a Port-of-Spain magistrate to answer criminal charges.

Mark Standard, 31, of Maraval, was arrested at about 8:26 pm on Tuesday along South Quay, Port-of-Spain, within the vicinity of the Diego Martin Taxi Stand for “washing cars.”

Police officers from the Central Business District Performance Unit, who were on patrol, noticed Standard cleaning cars for commercial gain on a public street, and arrested him for committing an offence contrary to Section 64(1)(a) of the Summary Offences Act Ch 11:02.

The Act states that any person who makes, repairs, washes, or cleans any vehicle (except in the case of an accident where repair on the spot is necessary) would be liable to an offence and could be fined $200 or face imprisonment for one month.

Standard was kept in custody until his appearance yesterday before Magistrate Melvin Daniel in the First Court. He was also charged for the possession of a knife.

When Standard was asked by Daniel if he knew why he was before the court, the Maraval man calmly replied “for washing cars.” His calm response invoked a light atmosphere in the courtroom, further emphasised when he explained that he did not know he was committing an offence. He also explained the knife in his possession was used to peel pumpkins which he would occasionally sell in the market. Standard pleaded with Daniel to show leniency, as he did not want to spend Christmas in prison away from his son. After some deliberation, Daniel reprimanded and discharged the accused for the “washing” charge. However, Standard was fined $800 or two months hard labour for the possession of a knife.