TAXIMAN FINED £3 10s

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28983, 26 August 1959, Page 9

TAXIMAN FINED £3 10s

Ran Over Traffic Officer’s Toes

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 25,

A taxi-driver who rtn over the foot of a traffic officer had not shown much concern and apparently thought it was funny, the traffic officer concerned said in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington today. ( Ronald Kenneth Musgrove, the driver pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention.

Traffic Officer M. H. Haughey said he was directing traffic in a congested city street when he felt a painful pressure across his toe cap—a taxi had one wheel on his foot. The driver rolled down his window and in a voice which betrayed no trace of genuine concern inquired if he had run over Haughey’s foot. He waved the taxi over to the kerb and issued Musgrove with a ticket. Traffic Officer Haughey said he saw a doctor and had to take three days off work because of injuries to his toes.

Musgrove said in evidence it was an accident. He thought he could get through between parked vehicles, but was forced over by a trolley bus. He was moving at a creeping pace when he felt a bump and realised he had run over the traffic officer’s toes, he said.

Mr M. E. Scully, S.M., said Musgrove had convicted himself on his evidence and he fined him £3 10s.