INTOXICATED DRIVERS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 271, 21 August 1925, Page 12

INTOXICATED DRIVERS

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED ONE SENT TO PRISON Three Palmerston North motorists appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. AV. G. Riddell, S.M., charged with being intoxicated while in charge of motor lorries, and with assaulting Constable O’Donnell. Defendants were Stephen James Havell, Kenneth Francis Havell, and Johnston \\ r alton. Senior Sergeant Lander conducted the case for the police. Evidence was given by AVilfred Lawrence Beech, clerk to the Makara County Council, who stated that while driving his motor car home on Wednesday evening he was blocked in the Ngahauranga Gorge by three large motor lorries. He was forced to keep behind the lorries for some time and noticed that on one occasion one of the vehicles almost went over the bank. On arriving at Johnsonville he made a complaint to the police. Constable O’Dortnell, in evidence, said that when the lorries arrived at the township he examined the drivers and, finding that they were intoxicated, informed them that they were not in a fit condition to be on the road. The men then assaulted him. several residents having to come to his assistance. The three drivers were arrested and conveyed to Wellington. After hearing further evidence, the Magistrate said the matter could not be and that the penalty would have to'be increased as cases of this sort were coming before the Court every dav. For being intoxicated a fine of £2O each would be imposed on Stephen Havell and AValton. Kenneth Havell wolild be sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour. On the assault charge a fine of £3 in each case would be inflicted. Kenneth Havell’s license would be suspended for three months, and the other defendant’s licenses for one month.