PROSECUTION OF MOTOR-CYCLIST

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27225, 17 December 1953, Page 9

PROSECUTION OF MOTOR-CYCLIST

Allegations Against Traffic Officer SPEEDING CHARGE DISMISSED Allegations that Traffic Officer C. S. Hansen, of the Transport Department, had called him “one of those cowboys” and “a dirty rat bag” were made by George Purda, a farm hand, when he g leaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s ourt yesterday, before Mr Rex. C. Abernethy, S.M., to a charge of riding his motor-cycle at a dangerous speed on Russley road on October 18. Traffic Officer Hansen denied the allegations. Giving evidence, he said his speed before he saw Purda was 60 miles an hour, as he was taking a patient back to the mental hospital. The patient had jumped into the Waimakariri river. He checked the speed of the motor-cycle at 65 miles an hour. When he stopped Purda both Purda and his pillion rider were hostile and inclined to be abusive.

Purda said his motor-cycle was a 350 c.c. 1951 machine, ana had done 27,000 miles. It was impossible to get a speed of 65 miles an hour out of it. If Traffic Officer Hansen could get it to do 65 miles an hour he could have the motor-cycle. Anybody else could have it too if they could get that speed out of it. His speedometer showed 50 miles an hour before he was stopped by the traffic officer.

Purda said that when he got' his licence he was told that the speed limit with a pillon rider on the open road was 50 miles an hour, and alone 55 miles an hour. “When Traffic Officer Hansen came out of his car he called me a dirty rat bag without a reason. It-is not fair to call anyone names. If I break the regulations I will be fined, but I should not be called names. I have my own,” said Purda. “English is not your native tongue?” said the Magistrate. Purda: I am a Norwegian. “Mr Hansen is not allowed to be rude to you or to anyone else, and you are not allowed to be rude either,” said the Magistrate. “It may be that there was some misunderstanding and that hard words passed on both sides. I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you must take this as a warning that you must obey the traffic regulations and the other laws of the country.” The charge was dismissed.