Man Charged with Reckless Driving of Horse

(Telemark County, Norway) Apparently, there is no specifically-defined traffic offense for reckless giddy-upping.

An 85-year-old man from Telemark County in southern Norway refused to accept a reckless driving fine for damages he caused - with his horse.

"She didn't turn far enough out," the elderly man said about the woman driver whose car was damaged, newspaper Varden reports.

The court ruled the 85-year-old would have to pay a NOK 7,000 (USD 1,287) fine, NOK 10,141 for damages to the car he hit, and NOK 3,000 in court costs. The case went to trial after the man refused to accept the NOK 3,000 fine handed out by police.

The unusual accident took place on a narrow road in Telemark in June. The 85-year-old was out with a trotter and sulky, and hit a Ford Escort driven by a 40-year-old woman.

The woman drove off to the side and stopped when she saw the horse and carriage coming, but it didn't help as her care received damage to a rear door and a rear mudguard.

The Amish in the U.S. may have occasionally encountered a similar circumstance.