HIT-AND-RUN CHARGES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 3

HIT-AND-RUN CHARGES

Sir, —Last week the Chief Justice sentenced a hit-and-run driver to six months’ imprisonment at Greymouth (one charge failing to stop, the other negligent driving causing death). What is the maximum penalty for this offence? In the event of a hit-and-run driver being apprehended, is it a judicial principle to delay bringing the accused person before a Court for over one month? Where excessive speed and drink are the causes of death in a hit-and-run case, should there not be a charge of manslaughter?—Yours, etc., SHYLOCK.

Greymouth, March 5, 1956. [A Christchurch police officer said that all these cases were brought before a Magistrate as soon as practicable. The police case against persons in such offences had to be carefully and very properly prepared. A hit-and-run driver is charged under the Transport Act. 1949. and is liable to a penalty of five years’ imprisonment or a fine of £5OO, if the other person concerned is injured in the accident. If the other person is not injured, the penalty is limited to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of £lOO. A person convicted of reckless or negligent driving is liable to a fine of £lO9 or imprisonment for three months. If death is caused by an accident involving negligent driving or driving while intoxicated, a crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, or a fine not exceeding £5OO. Such a case may be dealt with summarily by a Magistrate who may impose a fine of £lOO or three months’ imprisonment. All these cases carry the suspension of the offender’s driver’s licence and disqualification. As there are specific provisions in the Transport Act to deal with traffic accidents involving death, charges of manslaughter are not now preferred in such cases.]