British bus driver fined for extra rider says it was a blow-up doll

MANCHESTER, England, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A British party bus driver said the extra passenger that led to him being fined $688.86 was a blow-up doll, not an actual human.

Bash Ali, 41, of Oldham, England, said he was driving the Mercedes minibus from Oldham into a trendy section of nearby Manchester when he was pulled over and cited for using a motor vehicle on a road when the load or passengers were likely to cause danger when police said he was carrying nine people, more than his allowed eight, The Daily Mirror reported Monday.

Ali said the ninth passenger was actually a blow-up doll, but he pleaded guilty to the charge in court because he couldn't afford a lawyer. He was ordered to pay $688.86 in fines and costs.

"I have no faith in the justice system," he said.

Prosecutor Paul Scott said police were confident the bus was occupied by nine humans when it was pulled over March 30.

"There are dangers, clearly, for anybody inside the vehicle and anybody outside the vehicle when it is overloaded," Scott said. "So essentially what the council says is that the vehicle was overloaded and that they were all human beings."