MOTORIST FINED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 37, 23 November 1937, Page 4

MOTORIST FINED.

INTOXICATED IN CAR. LICENCE SUSPENDED. James Mann Collett, a carpenter, of Ashburton, was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment, for being intoxicated while in charge of a motorcar on Saturday afternoon. His driver’s licence was suspended, until December I, 1938. Messrs W. H. Rundle and E. H. Orr, Justices of the Peace, were on the bench. Mr C. G. deC. Drury represented the accused, who pleaded guilty. Sergeant J. F. Cleary said that at 5 p.m. on Saturday the accused drove out of Eton street into Beach road. He cut the corner very badly, and instead of straightening up he swung into a hedge on the right-hand side of the road,. A doctor who had examined Collett found him under the influence of liquor, and quite unfit to drive a car. Mr Drury said he admitted that there was very little excuse for the accused. He was a sound and good workman, but unfortunately he was easily influenced and upset by liquor. He had not been previously convicted for being drunk in charge of a car*, although he had several convictions for drunkenness. When he was turning into Beach road, he saw a cyclist, and in order to avoid him he pulled the car right into the fence. In imposing the fine, the Bench suggested that it would be for accused’s own good to take out a prohibition order.