Police investigation has revealed that two Scots, who on their website bragged about their off-road driving in Iceland, as reported by Iceland Review yesterday, exaggerated their adventures, according to RÚV .
Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland. The two, who are military veterans, upset many by posting photos of themselves in what appeared to be prohibited areas in the Holuhraun lava field. They claimed they had driven a 12 km distance into Holuhraun, knowing full well they were breaking the law. One of the photos showed them wearing gas masks in the lave field. Their stated goal was to drive their modified 4×4 up five volcanoes in Iceland.
Once news spread about their travels in prohibited areas, many responded with furious remarks on their website, pointing out to them that what they were doing was illegal and advising them to contact police and pay their fines. Yesterday, according to RÚV , they did report themselves to police, and yesterday afternoon, every status they had posted regarding the trip had been removed.
Húsavík Police Inspector Aðalsteinn Júlíusson explains that having investigating the case, the Húsavík police now know that the couple didn’t do any off-road driving after all, but posted instead staged photos which were very deceiving. He requested that the photos be removed. According to police, the men entered an area in the vicinity of the lava, where access is allowed, but made it look like they had driven off the road.
The pair offered to do their best to increase other people’s awareness of the fact that off-road driving is illegal in Iceland.
