Planton v DPP (2002)

A causeway linking an island to the mainland, which was signposted as private and access to which was restricted to inhabitants of the island and those servicing the island, was not a "public place" for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.5(1)(a) and the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 Sch.2.

P appealed against his conviction under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.5(1)(a) and Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 Sch.2 of driving a motor vehicle in a public place after consumption of alcohol above the legal limit. P lived on an island which was linked to the mainland by a causeway expressed to be a private road.

Access to the causeway was restricted to the inhabitants of the island…