BICYCLE LIGHTS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20626, 16 August 1932, Page 14

BICYCLE LIGHTS.

RECENT HAWKEPS BAY CASE. CHIEF TRAFFIC INSPECTOR'S VIEW. Some weeks ago three boys in the Hawke's Bay district were convicted for nob having lighted lamps attached to thoir bicycles. As the case is of interest to Christchurch, owing to tic great number of cyclists there arc here, the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr H. Macintosh) wrote to the inspector tor t le Hawke's Bay County Council (Mr D. Evans) asking for particulars, which he has now received. . Mr Evans has written stating that the lads referred to were travelling at night immediately behind a bus, tle speed of which was between 28 and 30 miles an hour. The boys were halted and warned against such a dangerous practice, and on dismounting their lights ail went out. The boys were prosecuted as a warning only, under the Hawke's Bay counties' joiut bylaw 12.3. which reads as follows: "Every bicycle or motor-bicycle which shall be standing on or travelling along any road within the county between sunset and sunrise shall cany on the forepart thereof an efficient lamp B'j designed and placed as to throw a white light ahead of the front wheel. If a side-car or trailer be attached to any bicycle or motor-bicycle, a white light shall be carried on the outside ol the side-car, or at the back of the trailer, ns the case may be. "4 Wherever in this by-law it is provided that a light or lamp must be carried it shall be understood that the light or lamp must be carried burning brightly. , „ "5 It shall be the duty of the person for the time being in charge of any vehicle to see that this by-law is duly observed as regards the vehicle. In default thereof, the person for tin: time being in charge of the vehicle shall be deemed to have committed an offence against the by-law.' The letter added that the charge against the boys was as follows: "That being in charge of a vehicle, to wit, a bicycle standing on the Taradale road in the Hawke's Bay county, between sunset and sunrise, he did fail to carry on the forepart thereof an efficient lump brightly burning, committing an offence under by-law _ 12.3 of the Hawke's Bay counties' joint by-laws." Christchurch By-law. Mr Macintosh stated that he had sent a letter to Mr Evans expressing the opinion that the County Council was very fortunate to secure convictions, since the boys were riding bicycles with lighted lamps, and it was the fact that the inspector had stopped them that caused the lights to become extinguished. In the circumstances, Mr Macintosh considered that the inspector might be charged with having caused the bicycles to be without lights. In his opinion, it would be difficult to secure a conviction in respect of such a case, as Section .38 of the Christchurch by-law sets it out that it is not nn offence for n pei-son on foot to lead a bievcle without a rider and without n light.