Stopped A Rolls

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31345, 15 April 1967, Page 3

Stopped A Rolls

(N.Z. Press Aisoclatlon)

PAEROA, April 14.

Although he was travelling at 100 miles an hour in a patrol car, Traffic Officer R. T. Whatmough had no chance of catching the driver of a Rolls Royce, he told Mr T. B. Mooney, SJW, at Thames yesterday. An Auckland company director, Ronald Arthur Neil, pleaded guilty through Mr J. M. Rennie, to a charge of exceeding 55 miles an hour. The traffic officer said that when first noticed the defendant was travelling at 70 miles an hour, but he speeded up to 95 miles an hour. The officer took three miles

to catch him, travelling at 100 miles an hour.

“The defendant said it was a new car and did not realise what speed he was doing. I am inclined to believe him,** he said. Mr Rennie submitted that the rich were more subject to temptation than the poor. In another country z traffic officer would not dare stop a Rolls Royce.

He submitted that hie client did not realise his speed and his driving was not dangerous. The Magistrate said that regardless of the make of the vehicle driving at a speed of 100 miles an hour was dangerous. He fined Nell £4O.