SPECIAL GAOL?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 7

SPECIAL GAOL?

DRIVERS WHO DRINK

" FINES LITTLE USE."

SMASHES DURING WEEK-END.

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE.

The charging in the Police Court this morning of three motorists alleged to have been in a state of intoxication while in charge of motor cars over the weekend caused the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, to again make reference to this class of offence, while some observations were also made by the police.

A remarkable coincidence was disclosed, two of the men charged suffering injured noses when their cars collided with the same end of the same safety zone in Queen Street.

j When the name of John Middleton I Hamlin White, a cierk, aged 38, was | called, on a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a | motor car in Queen Street on Saturday, | Sub-Inspector Fox asked for an adjournment until Friday next. "This accused ■ sustained a fractured nose, and is not ! able to appear this morning," said Mr. FoX. "He is one of three motorists arrested over the week-end, and. charged with this type of offence to-day. It appears that this class of offence is not getting any less." Hamlin White's case was adjourned until Friday. Two Cars Hit Same Zone. Alfred Ivan Carrier, labourer, aged 22, for whom Mr. Haigh appeared, pleaded ■ guilty to being in a state of intoxication I while in charge of a car in Queen Street. ' Sub-Inspector Fox said that at 12.25 j yesterday morning, Constable Kelk heard a crash in Queen Street and found j that the car driven by accused had crashed into the end of the safety zone on the western side of Queen Street, near the intersection of Queen and Victoria Streets. Carrier was out of the ' car by the time the constable arrived on i the scene, while a woman who had been i in the car had r ,: sappeared. Carrier'was j intoxicated and was arrested. In the ! car the constable found a bottle of gin which had been opened, and some empty beer bottles, a broken beer bottle and some glasses. This was the first time Carrier had come under the notice of the police. "Strangely enough his was the second car which collided with the same- end of this safety zone," added Mr. Fox. "A further coincidence is tliatl both men suffered fractured noses. It would appear to indicate that this particular safety zone is in the wrong place." Counsel pointed out that Cartier had been unfortunate in that as the result of a previous motor accident he had been seriously injured and had spent 22 months in hospital. He was not driving a car on that occasion. It was raining heavily at the time Carrier's car struck the safety zone and he had been only mildly intoxicated. Mr. Haigh asked that Cartier be dealt with as leniently as was possible. Magistrate on Penalties. "The penalties I have been imposing in the past few weeks do not appear to be acting as a deterrent," said Mr. McKean. "I have said before that I would increase the penalties for these offences. Since June 1 no less than 15 drivers have been charged with this sort of offence. I shall have to seriously consider the imposition of imprisonment." The magistrate postponed sentence until he had time to consider the matter further. "On account of your youth I do not want to send you to prison," remarked Mr. McKean later. "If there w ere a separate division in prison for people guilty of this sort of offence I should have less hesitation in sending you there, but unfortunately there is not. However, separate division or no separate division, I will have to do it sooner or later for this sort of offence, since fines and the cancellation of licenses' seem to have no useful effect." In answer to the magistrate, accused said that the car was his own. He had had it about three months. "Perhaps increasing the period of the suspension of licenses may have some effect," said Mr. McKean. "Accused is fined £10, his license is cancelled, and he is to have no license for two years." The magistrate allowed 48 hours for accused to pay the fine, on Mr. Haigli's assurance that it would be paid. Another Case Adjourned. The third man charged was Andrew James Markey, aged 3G, service car proprietor, for whom Mr. Haigh appeared. Markey was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a car in Nelson Street on July 19° and further, with driving without a license. On the application of Mr. Haigh, both charges "were adjourned until Wednesday.