DROVE DOWN FOOTPATH

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13063, 4 February 1943, Page 4

DROVE DOWN FOOTPATH

RETURNED MAN FINED Traffic Offences Magistrate's Court at Tauranga Driving a motor-car down the footpath of Devonport Road from First Avenue after a dance cost Gilbert Arthur Merriman, a farm hand and returned soldier, £2 when he appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., on a charge of driving a car in a manner which might he dangerous to the public and driving without a current driver's licence. Merriman. pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant G. S. Saunders said that after a dance on the night, of January 9 the defendant drove from Cameron Road down First Avenue and turning from First Avenue into Devonport Road drove through a bowser station on the corner and continued on down the footpath of Devonport Road for 150 yards toward the shopping area. Constable Urquhart saw . the car approaching and flashed his torch. The car then turned into Spring Street with a screeching of tyres and disappeared from view into Cameron Road. Constable Urquhart chased the car on his bicycle but it was too fast for him. Merriman seemed to be just showing off, as there were several people in the car.' When interviewed he admitted driving on the footpath. He was a man returned from overseas and had not renewed his driving licence since his return. On the first, charge Merriman was fined £2 and on the second ss, and ordered to pay costs in both-cases. William Alfred Carlton Douglas, of Gate Pa (Mr H. O. Cooney) . pleaded guilty to driving a motorcycle on January 9 without a current warrant of fitness attached, and was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs. Lois Charmian Humphrys, Tauranga (Mr J. K. B. Lusk) pleaded guilty to failing to comply with headlight restrictions on November 7 and was fined 10s and ordered to pay costs. John Alexander Prole, farmer, of Omokoroa, on a similar charge, was fined £1 and ordered to pay costs. Mark Apaape, taxi-driver, of Wairoa (Mr H. O. Cooney) pleaded guilty to driving in a manner.which might be dangerous on Cameron Road on November 7, and to exceeding 30 miles an hour in a built-up area. On each charge he was fined 30s and ordered to pay costs. The last three prosecutions were made by the Transport Department (Inspector R. S. Gardiner).