TO STOP SPEEDING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 184, 30 April 1924, Page 6

TO STOP SPEEDING

POLICE ON THE ALERT MAGISTRATE PROMISES HEAVIER FINES Motorists who treat the traffic regulations with scant respect can look forward to heavier penalties when they appear before the Court, according to statements made by Mr. C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M.. yesterday, when dealing with a batch of offenders. Senior-Sergftmt Lander, who prosecuted. stated that the stop-watehes which were used at the trap in Customhouse Quay belonged to the corporation and were always tested. P The Magistrate: And the public can understand that the police are setting themselves out to stop this sx>eedin„ in the main streets? Senior-Sergeant Lander: /That is so. Sll His Worship: After this warning drivers can expect heavier fines. John Gibson Findlay, whose speed had reached 18J miles per hour (regulation 15 miles), and George SidnevRobertson, who had travelled at 1J miles per hour, were each fined £1 and costs. John Murphy, who drove -town Riddiford Street at 25 miles per hour, was charged with driving at a speed dangerous to the public. He wan fined £2 and costs. A fine of £3 and costs was imposed on Francis Holmes, who had dashed across the intersection of CourtenayPlace and Tory Street at a speed estimated at 25 miles per hour. “That would be a low estimate, ’ declared a sergeant in evidence, “the speed wa* tremendous.” It was pointed out that the speed-limit at that spot was eight miles per hour. On the Wrong Side. Frederick Gordon Potter was charged with failing,to keep his lorry on the near side of the street, driving in a dangerous manner, and failing to stop when an accident occurred. According to Senior-Sergeant Lander, defendant was driving his lorry along Customhouse Quay in the direction of Willis Street, and when nearing the intersection at the Pier Hotel another vehicle made its appearance and rather sharply cut the corner. To avoid a collision defendant had two alternatives: to stop, or to swerve to his wrong side. “He chose the dangerous path,” continued the sergeant, “and in doing so he encountered a boy' on a bicycle coming from Willis Street. The boy, who was on his right side, was able to jump from his machine to the footpath. The defendant then went on to his right side and proceeded on his journey. . . ’the constable is certain that defendant only laughed and went on his way. The bicycle was sufficiently’ damaged to enable this charge to he brought.” Defendant denied laughing, and complained that the appearance of the motor-car had been the cause of the trouble. He admitted tying on the wrong side and neglecting to stop. Senior-Sergeant Lander: "When yon decided to go on to the wrong side you should have given way to the cyclist. The Magistrate said the man seemed to have some excuse for cutting on to the wrong side, and the charge relating to driving in a dangerous manner was withdrawn- Defendant was fined Tss. on the first count and 10s. on the third. /'How Not to Drive.” “Is he an experienced driver?” inquired His Worship with reference to Frank Goodwin, who was charged with failing to keep a motor-car on the left side of the street. Senior-Sergeant Lander: Yes; he is a motor salesman, and at the time he was teaching someone how to drive. (Laughter.) His Worship: How not to drive, I should think. Defendant was fined £1 10s. and costs. Other Breaches. Failure to give warning of the approach of his car led to John Swinson being fined 15s. and costs. Robert Charles Collins, George Campbell Cooper, and Gerald Rolfe Green, who had neglected to provide their cars with lights, were each fined 10s. and costs.