A motorist in the United Kingdom has been fined by police for blowing his nose while sitting in traffic.

Michael Mancini, a furniture restorer, says his vehicle wasn't moving as he was stuck in traffic in Ayrshire when he blew his nose. Suddenly, four officers appeared and issued him a fixed penalty fine of #60 (about R735) for not being in complete control of his car.

The 39-year-old, who has refused to pay the fine and is facing time in court, insists that he had his handbrake on at the time, says the Daily Mail.

"I still had the tissue in my hand and was totally stunned when he said I was getting a fixed penalty notice for not being in control of my car," Mancini said.

"I thought it was some kind of Beadle's About [British hidden camera show] moment ? a wind-up. The traffic was at a complete standstill and I had my handbrake on."

The policeman who issued the fine was Stuart Gray, nicknamed 'PC Shiny Buttons' for his fanatical approach to the enforcing the law, reports the newspaper.

In 2009, Gray issued a fine for littering after a man accidentally dropped a #10 (about R122) note in the road.

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