Fred Flintstone car creator dismissed of charges
An artist facing charges for “driving” a Buick that looked more like a Fred Flintstone car, has driven home his point about consumption.
Montrealer Michel de Broin was pedaling his hollowed out 1986 Buick Regal when he was pulled over by police in Toronto last year and charged with operating an unsafe vehicle.
The car is really an art piece destined for display at the Mercer Union art gallery. De Broin was just nine blocks away when he was stopped, but he was determined to fight the charge and win.
In court, his lawyer maintained that the inherently dangerous part of automobiles is their powerful motors, and that the Toronto Police didn’t bother to test the steering or brakes, which were in good working order – even though they are hand brakes off a bike. The car also doesn’t have a floor, an engine or transmission, no signal lights and candles instead of headlights.
Said Fox, “This thing only went 15 km/h. I’d like to ask the officer how many people have been killed by a muscular powered vehicle.”
The Crown prosecutor did his best to make the case, but after the court erupted into laughter he withdrew his questions and retreated.