Volkswagens in Court

Denise Caught Speeding

Television celebrity Denise Van Outen was caught speeding in her New Beetle on the M40 near High Wycombe by Thames Valley Police on July 7. It was the same stretch of motorway that her pop star fiancé, Jay Kay of Jamiroquai, was caught speeding in his Ferrari two years ago. Denise, 25, was driving her New Beetle at 73mph through road works with a 40mph limit. Police have issued a summons for her to appear before local magistrates.

Lupo lady lambastes loopy law

Motorist Linda Smart was fined £20 by police for sipping mineral water while she sat in her car at traffic lights. The 27-year old drank from a bottle after a work-out at a gym and drove away in her new VW Lupo when the lights changed to green. But a policeman pulled her over seconds later and told her she had not been in proper control of the car. On June 1, accountant Linda said she was refusing to pay the fine so she could take the matter to court. Linda, of Calne, Wiltshire, said: "It's just ridiculous. it's not as if I was drinking gin - it was just a swig of water. How can I be out of control if I'm not even moving? I guess he thought I was a soft touch and knew I'd pay up. It's laughable when I think of all the other things people do in their cars - from lighting a cigarette to changing a cassette." A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: "A fixed penalty ticket was issued to a motorist who, in the judgement of a police officer, was not in proper control of a moving vehicle."

Special thanks to Pete Frost of the Mexican and Brazilian Register these articles.