A man who had been fined €233 for driving a mini quad bike without a helmet and allowing a young passenger to do the same was yesterday ordered to pay 10 times as much after an appeal court ruled the machine was also unregistered.

Fernando Psaila, 33, was spotted by Assistant Police Commissioner Raymond Zammit on March 29, 2010 driving the mini quad bike in Mosta when he was not wearing a helmet and with a boy sitting in front of him, also helmetless. The bike did not have licence plates either.

The Magistrates’ Court had found him guilty of driving without a helmet but acquitted him of driving an unlicensed vehicle and without insurance. He had been fined €233.

The Attorney General appealed, saying Mr Psaila had to be found guilty of driving an unlicensed vehicle because it was clear the bike was not registered. Therefore, it was not insured either.

Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano agreed and raised the fine.