JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Finally, a young woman driver in Britain has had an unusual run-in with the law. It all started when she pulled out her bottle for a drink. Chris Choi has the details.</s>CHRIS CHOI, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This motorist became Britain's best-known drink driver, and not in the usual sense. Linda Smart was stopped by police who saw her sipping water. It soon became an expensive tickle, an on the spot fine of 20 pounds, which she's refusing to pay.</s>LINDA SMART: Now I wasn't dangerous at all. I was going to the maximum of 10 miles an hour to change gear. If I'd have been going a faster speed, perhaps maybe.</s>CHOI: Guidance on driving control remains vague. The law only states: "No person shall drive if he can not have proper control of the vehicle." The highway code merely gives general advice to avoid distractions when driving, such as using a mobile phone, map reading, arguing, eating or drinking.</s>CHOI (on camera): Police officer say that driver should remain undistracted and with their hands on the wheel. Others say that's evidence of them losing a grip of police priorities. Certainly today, ITN's cameras caught many motorists with their hands full. (voice-over): They juggled with mobile phones and with cigarettes. Some even paused for snacks in heavy traffic. Most would say all this is within accepted safety margins. But Wiltshire officers today defended their action against Linda Smart.</s>CHIEF INSP. RICHARD ROWLAND, WILTSHIRE POLICE: Of course police officers have discretion. They've got to take every case on its own individual merits. But people must realize that taking a little risk, eating a packet of crisps while driving along, not paying full attention to the road, is dangerous.</s>CHOI: Linda Smart has 28 days to pay, or face tougher punishment if found guilty in court. But it will take more time and clearer rules to change Britain's driving habits. Chris Choi, ITN.
Young Woman in Britain Has Unusual Run-in With the Law