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Lithuanian party leader loses car over repeated unlicensed driving
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Crime & Justice

Lithuanian party leader loses car over repeated unlicensed driving

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A political party leader in Lithuania, T. Jakelaitis, continues to drive despite having his license revoked.
  • He has accumulated 16 traffic violations since 2020, including 8 serious offenses.
  • Jakelaitis blames police and courts for not properly informing him about his license suspension and has had his car confiscated.

T. Jakelaitis, the leader of a political party in Lithuania, faces consequences for repeatedly driving without a valid license. Since 2020, he has amassed 16 traffic violations, eight of which are classified as serious offenses. Despite his driving privileges being revoked, Jakelaitis has been repeatedly stopped by authorities while behind the wheel. He consistently offers various excuses, often blaming the police and courts for allegedly failing to inform him adequately about his license suspension or the terms of its revocation. In one instance, he attempted to shift blame to his daughter. Jakelaitis was caught by a speed camera and falsely claimed he was not driving, even though photographic evidence clearly showed him in the driver's seat. When questioned by Delfi, he responded evasively, stating, "Interesting... Quite a lot. Let's clarify." He also claimed he would consult lawyers regarding court decisions about his violations, mentioning his involvement in at least 21 cases since 2023. He cited numerous disputes with state institutions and alleged police intrusion into his home. Jakelaitis also mentioned a complaint filed with the Journalist Ethics Inspector's Office regarding the publication of his children's data. He further commented, "A pinch of justice is necessary for both the person and Lithuania... p.s. ... I contributed to the publication of the book in 2019, Aldona Meilutytฤ— 'Degenerate Courts, Ruined State' - I recommend reading it..." He did not answer further questions. The politician last encountered law enforcement on April 3rd in Vilnius, where his erratic driving led to a stop. It was then discovered he lacked a license. He received a maximum fine of 1,000 euros, his license suspension was extended by 23 months, and his "VW Passat" was confiscated. Jakelaitis disagreed with the violation, but a Vilnius district court rejected his appeal in mid-August. The judge noted that Jakelaitis continues to disregard societal rules, leaving no grounds for leniency. In court, Jakelaitis claimed he miscalculated, believing his license had been reinstated. He asserted he thought he regained his license on March 21st, but the suspension was valid until the end of the year. He blamed the courts and police for not informing him of the correct reinstatement date.

Interesting... Quite a lot. Let's clarify.

โ€” T. JakelaitisJakelaitis' evasive response when questioned about the number of his traffic violations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.