ROAD OFFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 220, 16 September 1940, Page 8

ROAD OFFENCES.

ONE MAN IMPRISONED. INTOXICATED DRIVERS. Three men were dealt with in the Police Court to-day by Mr. J. Morling, S.M., for being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor vehicle. Charles Edward Newfield, aged 30, for whom Mr. Trevor Henry appeared, pleaded guilty. Sub-Insj>ector Calwell said that about 8.15 p.m. on Sunday, September 1, Xewfield's car, while travelling along Wheturangi Road, struck a parked car near the kerb and finished up off the roadway. The examining doctor gave a certificate that Newfield was intoxicated. No damage was done to the car and no one was injured. This was Newfield's first appearance in Court.

Mr. Henry said the road wae under repair at the time and the parked car was projecting on the useable portion of the road. There was no tail light showing on the parked car. Newfield had been worried because of his wife's illness and had lost much sleep. On the afternoon in question he had one or two drinks, but was quite able to drive his car. But the shock of the accident caused the alcohol to have quite an unusual effect on him. Counsel asked, in view of all the circumstances, that a fine be imposed. In fining Newfield £25 and disqualifying him from driving for 12 months, the magistrate said there were some exceptional circumstances which justified him in inflicting a fine. Further, the medical certificate showed that the' degree of intoxication wae slight. Term of Imprisonment. "You have several previous convictions for drunkenness and you do not come before the Court with an unblemished record, while you were in a pretty bad state of intoxication," said Mr. Morling to Arthur Leonard Higgins, aged 40, who admitted that he was in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor cycle in Sturdee Street about 4.30 p.m. on September 13.

The police stated that the cycle ridden by Higgins collided with the rear of a stationary motor car. Higgins wae intoxicated and unfit to be in charge of the cycle. Higgins said he had been working in a ship's bunkers shovelling coal that afternoon. It was hot work and after finishing he had three bottles of beer. His cycle had swayed and he was unable to straighten it up before it struck the tail light of the car. Thie knocked him unconscious. Higgins was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. Fine of £20 Imposed. Samuel Gill, aged 37. for whom Mr. Allan Moody . appeared, pleaded not guilty to a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car in Victoria Street on September 7. Sub-Inspector Calwell said that while travelling at a slow speed along Victoria Street, Gill's car struck a man who was under the influence of liquor and was crossing the street without looking out for traffic. The man was not injured and the car pulled up immediately. Three police witnesses and Dr. Haycock considered Gill was intoxicated but evidence that Gill was quite sober shortly before tlie accident was given by three witnesses for the defence. Mr. Moody also produced a medical certificate showing that Gill had been under treatment for nervous debility. After hearing the evidence, Mr. Morling said he was satisfied that Gill was intoxicated even if not to a bad decree However, he thought his condition was accentuated by his state of health Allowance would be made for thfe and Gill would not be sent to prison. A fine of £20, together with disqualification for one year, was imposed.