Sick Belize City Woman Fined for Driving Unlicensed Vehicle to Hospital

A forty-seven-year-old Belize City woman, Shirley Adette Arnold, is facing a fine after pleading guilty to driving an unlicensed vehicle, but her reason for doing so has drawn sympathy from the court. Arnold, who suffers from serious health issues, including kidney failure and diabetes, appeared before Magistrate Ludlow Black earlier today. She admitted to using her silver Mazda Tribute on June fifth without a valid license, explaining that she was on her way to the hospital for dialysis treatment and had no one to help her. Despite having a prior conviction for the same offense, the court showed compassion. Magistrate Black fined her a hundred and five dollars, taking into account her medical condition and financial hardship. Arnold was also found to owe the court over one thousand, one hundred dollars in previous fines, but the magistrate waived that amount after she promised to make a two hundred dollar payment by Friday. Normally, those with such debts risk being remanded to prison, but in this case, the court opted for leniency.