Man fights ticket for blowing nose

PRESTWICK, Scotland, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A Scottish motorist who was ticketed for blowing his nose while his car was stopped in clogged traffic said he will take the charge to court.

Michael Mancini, 39, of Prestwick, said he was in stationary traffic with his parking brake on when he reached for a handkerchief to wipe his runny nose, leading police Constable Stuart Gray to issue him a $97 fine because he was "not in control of his vehicle" while blowing his nose, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

"I was in total shock. I was stuck in traffic with the handbrake on and my nose was running," Mancini said. "It's beyond a disgrace. Surely it would have been more dangerous to drive with a blocked nose?"

Mancini said he will not pay the ticket and is now likely to face a criminal trial later this year, the newspaper reported.

"I am really angry. I made sure it was safe to blow my nose. It's doubtful I'll get legal aid so this could potentially cost me thousands of pounds in legal fees," he told the Daily Mail. "But I won't be paying the fixed penalty."

Gray previously made headlines last year when he issued an $80 littering ticket to a man who accidentally dropped a 10-pound ($16) note in the street.