London: An elderly lady was caught driving a car without a seat belt. But she wasn't fined because she can't be. She's the Queen!
Queen Elizabeth drove her Jaguar away from a polo match in Windsor without wearing the belt, and The Daily Mail caught her on camera.
She was not on a pubic road, but even if she was, the chance of her getting a ticket was a zero.
Such driving is against the law, but a reigning monarch cannot be found guilty of it.
As British courts are established on her behalf, the Queen cannot be a defendant in one -- as it would mean she was prosecuting herself.
The Queen is also the only person in Britain who is permitted to drive without a licence and is not obliged to have registration plates on her vehicles.
For ordinary motorists, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is 60 pounds. It was doubled from 30 pounds last year after the Home Office admitted the fine was not acting as enough of a deterrent.
The Queen, 84, is said to enjoy driving. During World War II, she was a member of the Auxiliary Transport Service.
IANS
First Published: Monday, June 14, 2010, 11:55