Abbi Murray
A London motorist was caught swiping on Tinder while behind the wheel by a cycling vigilante. Watch the clip below:
Riaz Rattansi was caught swiping away on the dating app back in June 2021 while stuck in slow-moving traffic by YouTuber CyclingMikey, who caught him red handed.
The video camera cyclist, whose real name is Mike van Erp, has amassed quite the following after filming dangerous drivers on his cycles and posting them on YouTube.
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The clip begins with the motorist being seen swiping on Tinder for what feels like decades, with van Erp eerily looming over him.
van Erp, who filmed the footage on his head camera, then knocked on the window and tells Rattansi: “You’ve just been caught out very badly — using your phone, looking through Tinder, swiping left on all the women.”
The cyclist is met with a series of apologies by Rattansi, who then holds up his hands and admits what he is doing is wrong.
But it seems as if he wasn't true to his word as Rattansi was caught again holding his phone while behind the wheel in November 2021. However, the incident could not be reported as there was not enough evidence under the laws at the time to prosecute him.
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Although the laws have since been updated to cover more types of phone use while at the wheel.
Last week, Rattansi arrived at Lavender Hill magistrates’ court, South West London, where he even had to face van Erp as a witness.
The property developer pleaded guilty and had six points deducted from his licence, as well as receiving a hefty fine of around £400.
And it appears this was not his first offence, as the 50-year-old already had six points off his licence for two prior speeding offences, meaning he was automatically considered for disqualification.
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According to van Erp, the driver made an ‘exceptional hardship’ plea and was spared the disqualification – lucky guy.
Speaking to The Sun yesterday (29 March), Rattansi questioned: “Who made him Batman?”
The businessman, who lives in a £1.2million apartment near Hyde Park, central London, continued: “I take responsibility for my actions and will pay the consequences.
"I didn’t have to touch my phone. I know it’s against the law. But at what point did this guy become a policeman?
"Unfortunately, he’s acting within the law, so what can I do?”
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Mr van Erp, 49, has reported over 1,000 law-breaking motorists to the police, including ex-boxer Chris Eubank, 55, and movie director Guy Ritchie, 53, who ended up getting banned.