In an eyebrow-raising incident, a 35-year-old American man, named Jared Brendan Mell, found himself on the receiving end of a traffic ticket after being caught operating a public minivan (locally known as angkot) in Denpasar on Monday.
This unexpected turn of events came as a result of Jared’s violation of traffic regulations, specifically his failure to possess a Class A driver’s license required for driving public transportation. Adding to the predicament, the minibus’s registration had expired, warranting further consequences.
“Since the individual possessed only a regular Class A driver’s license, and the minibus’s registration had lapsed, our officers proceeded to issue a ticket and impound the vehicle as evidence,” Denpasar Police spokesman I Ketut Sukadi told reporters today.
The motive behind Jared’s audacious decision to navigate the streets of Bali behind the wheel of an angkot remains unclear. Footage captured by concerned onlookers, which was subsequently shared on social media, showcased Jared utilizing the minibus as an unconventional mode of transportation for his surfboard.
Claiming to have borrowed the vehicle from a friend, the American has now become entangled in legal proceedings and is facing the consequences of his daring escapade.
This peculiar episode first came to light when a viral video capturing the foreign national in action gained traction on social media. Promptly responding to public concerns, traffic patrol officers initiated a pursuit.
The minibus was initially spotted traversing Sunset Road-Imam Bonjol yesterday at around 1pm.
The search ultimately led them to the vicinity of the Tahura Statue, strategically positioned along the prominent By Pass Ngurah Rai. The authorities then subsequently asked Mell to pull over.
“Suspending the driver from the vehicle, our officers proceeded to conduct a comprehensive document check, including an examination of the driver’s identification,” elaborated Ketut.
The owner of the angkot remains unclear.
