Dumbest idea I've heard in a while

An Englishman, who was fined and barred from driving for 6 months because he walked his dog while driving his car, tried to explain to the court that "a lot of people exercise their dogs in that manner."

Uh ... no!

An article on MSNBC.com, said Paul Railton last December was seen holding his dog's leash out the window of the car he was driving.

His lawyer, Paul Donoghue, said 23-year-old Railton acknowledged "it was a silly thing to do and there was an element of laziness." Donoghue was quoted by British newspapers as saying that his client "does not usually drive in such a manner."

Railton was ordered by magistrates in Consett, northeast England, to pay a 66 pound (about $100) fine, plus costs.

He also received three penalty points on his driver's license and as a result of existing points is barred from driving for six months.

MSNBC.com said some British newspapers report Railton was due to be tried for a 2007 attempted murder case, but the case was dismissed because of police misconduct.

Sounds like a repeat offender.