Dominic Cooper risks £2,500 fine and points on licence as he drives with trees coming out his sunroof
ACTOR Dominic Cooper risks getting tree points on his licence – as he drives his car with two tall saplings sticking out of the sunroof.
Mamma Mia star Cooper, 45, was seen behind the wheel with a pal and the swaying trees in leafy St John’s Wood, north London this week.
Cooper – also villain Edwyn Cooper in recent BBC heist drama The Gold – was seen in colourful tennis gear and wearing shades and a cap as he got into his Fiat Panda 4×4.
He and his pal were spotted laughing in the front seats, with the trees planted on the back seats of the limited-edition motor.
But last night, a lawyer warned he could have committed an offence which leads to points and a fine.
An onlooker said: “They were having a right laugh – but I could not believe it when I saw what they had in the car.
“Then I realised it was Dominic Cooper in the driver’s seat and was even more shocked.
“He got in his car with a friend and they were both having a giggle about what they were doing.
“It was an unusual sight and he shouldn’t have been driving like that – with the trees sticking out.
“Although the trees were really young, they were very tall and would have obscured what he could see – and what other drivers could see as well.
“It looked very dangerous – and I hope they didn’t try to go under a bridge.”
Lawyer Nick Freeman, who specialises in driving cases, said: “This appears to be a case where the driver is carrying a dangerous load.
“The straightforward offence here is of driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
“That would usually result in three points and a fine of up to £2,500 under Section 40 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act.
“If there’s a previous similar offence within three years, it’s a mandatory disqualification.
“And police could absolutely act just on seeing the pictures.
“They could send a Section 172 notice to the registered keeper, who has an obligation to say who was driving at the time.
“The registered keeper could be offered a fixed penalty at that point, which would probably be a fine and three points.
“However there is the possibility of it going to court.
“But they might offer a driver awareness course – and if they do that there’s no points and no conviction.”