Carriage driver fined for talking on mobile phone

A driver of a horse-drawn carriage fined by Victorian police for talking on his mobile phone will take his case to court in a bid to clear his name.

Dean Crichton, who has driven tourists around central Melbourne in his 19th century carriage for 17 years, was issued with a A$135 ($151) fine.

The city coachman said his actions posed no safety risk because a horse-drawn carriage required less handling than cars.

It is an offence for anyone in control of a vehicle in Victoria - be it a bicycle or car - to talk on a mobile while driving.