Suspension Of Licence For Dangerous Driving

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 14

Suspension Of Licence For Dangerous Driving

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Graham Stanley Robert Wall, aged 22 (Mr B. McClelland), pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge that on July 12 he drove a motor-car at Halswell in a manner which was or might have been dangerous. Mr Rex C. Abernethy. S.M., convicted Wall, fined him £7 10s, and suspended his driver’s licence for six weeks. Sub-Inspector J. C. Fletcher prosecuted. The police case was that Wall drove a small car erratically along the Christchurch-Akaroa highway about 230 p.m. on July 12, that he nearlv struck the rear of a parked bus at Halswell. that he drove off the road end into a fence, and endangered other users of the road.

Wall, in evidence, said that the first he knew of the allegations was when Constable McGrail interviewed him on Julv 25. He did drive his small car along the road at Halswell on the afternoon of July 12. He* left his home at Springston about 1.30 p.m., and drove to the Addington barracks to hand in his uniform. He had two small beers on the way. He returned along Lincoln road to Halswell and then to Tai Tapu. He had no recollection of going near the bus or of being followed bv another car. He did stoo on the road, but he did not run into the fence. He backed his car off the road on to the grass. He then drove to a farewell party at Tai Tapu. It was a windy day. and his small rar was hard to hold on the road. He was quite sober. “I entertain no doubt that Wall was driving in a dangerous manner.” said the Magistrate. “He was followed for a considerable distance by Ranger Henderson, who might conceivably have stopped him. but he is not to be criticised for that He did a public dutv by carrying on until he could hand over to someone else. On two or three occasions. Wall was a possible menace to other users of the highway He is lucky he is not facing a more serious charge. I place no reliance on his account of his movements.” NO LICENCE FOR SIX MONTHS James Glenullen Thompson, aged 30. a watersider, pleaded guilty to. charges that on August 11 he drove a car in Worcester street in a manner which was or might have been dangerous, that he failed to stop after an accident, that he had no driver’s licence, and that he had no warrant of fitness. He was fined £8 on the first charge, £5 on the second, £2 on the third, snd £ 1 on the fourth, and he was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence for .six months Sub-Inspector J. C. Fletcher said that about 8 pjn. on August 11 Thompson drove from Cathedral square west along Worcester street. He had a dispute with his wife and this distracted his attention. The car moved to its incorrect side of the road, and collided with a taxi travelling east. The taxi was immobilised. Thompson did not stop. Constable Pontifex saw him two hours later and considered he was fit to drive. Thompson was quite frank and admitted that his car was involved in the collision and that he did not stop. He had no licence, and

his warrant of fitness expired in June. Thompson said he was very sorry it all happened. It had been a lesson to him, and it would not happen again. “There is not very much to be said for you. I’m afraid.” said the Magistrate. “You had this accident, drove on and made no inquiries. . . .” Thompson: I did during the weekend, and made restitution to the driver for the wages he lost. “But you did nothing at the time.. Hit-and-run drivers are not popular with anybody. Fortunately no-one was hurt,” said the Magistrate. OTHER TRAFFIC CASES Other traffic prosecutions brought by the police and the penalties imposed were:— Failing to give way.—Bryce Hamilton Black. £5: Thomas Ford, £2: James Bolton Olds, £4: Charles Wallace Crone, £4 (no warrant of fitness. £1). No warrant of fitness: —Leighton Ambrose Diggs, 10s; Malcolm Stanley. Marshall. £l. Failing to notify change of ownership.—Normap Hewit Greg Kelly. £l. Using a motor-vehicle without due care and attention.—John Garrick Ferguson Pirie, £2 (no driver’s licence, £1). CHARGE DISMISSED Jack Cocks, represented by Mr R. Twyneham and Mr V. W. Russell, pleaded not guilty to using a motorvehicle without due care and attention at Dunsandel on May 23. The charge was dismissed. REMANDED Jack Bryon Haywood, aged 2li a ship’s steward, was remanded to September 27 on a charge that at Lyttelton on August 21 he unlawfully converted to his own use a motor-car valued at £325, the property of Robert John Smith. He was allowed bail of £5O and one surety of £lOO.