Driver Disqualified For Five Years

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 22

Driver Disqualified For Five Years

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 22. A 21-year-old workman was disqualified from driving for five years today and further remanded with a view to receiving periodic detention, on a charge or reckless driving.

“I doubt whether I have dealt with a worse case than yours,” said Mr A. A. Coates, S.M., in convicting Michael Noel Blackburn. Blackburn pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless driving, failing to produce a driver’s licence, failing to pay a harbour bridge toll, and failing to obey a harbour bridge control officer. Later he altered his plea of not guilty of reckless driving, to guilty. Evidence was that Blackburn rode a 650 c.c. motorcycle, a former Transport Department machine, at 65 miles an hour at Takapuna about 10 p.m. on November 14. He had a pillion passenger without a helmet and was accompanied by another motor-cycle. He was pursued by two Transport Department officers and subsequently stopped. Brown then rode away at speeds of up to 65 miles an hour, crossed the centre line, causing several cars and a bus to swerve.

Blackburn entered the motorway in the direction of the harbour bridge, pursued by an officer. He and his passenger passed through without paying the toll, or stopping when asked by a control officer.

“You are going to lose your licence for a long time,” the Magistrate told Blackburn. “You are not fit to drive on the roads, putting in jeopardy the lives of motorists and a bus driver and passengers. You have five convictions for speeding and two for careless driving.”