MENACE TO HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 296, 13 September 1927, Page 13

MENACE TO HIGHWAYS

INTOXICATED MOTORIST PUNISHED Leslie Thomas Leah, a carrier, aged 31, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-lorry on Saturday. Sub-Inspector Harvey said that while accused was driving liis lorry erratically along the Hutt road towards town Patrol-Constable Morrison, who thought that something must be wrong, called on him to stop This Lean did not do, and it was not until a tramcar blocked his progress in Featherston Street that he was pulled up. It was then seen that he was under the influence of liquor, and this was borne out by a doctor he himself called. The doctor said that accused was not fit to be driving the vehicle. On behalf of Lean, Air. A. J. Mazengarb pressed for leniency. “Accused,” lie said, ‘‘is a carrier in a small way, and though he is not married he supports his mother. If his license is cancelled his business will be ruined. Under the circumstances 1 ask that his ticket not be taken away. If lie is still allowed to drive he is quite willing to take out a prohibition order against himself.

The Magistrate (Mr T. If. Mauusell, S.M.) : I have listened to what counsel has said in this case, and have given consideration to the question of the license. At the same time I think it is my obvious duty to give first consideration, if not my only consideration, to the fact that the public must be protected. I must assume the accused is a menace to the highways, as having been twice previously convicted he is mad enough to repeat his offence. I don’t attach so much importance to the .fines in these cases as I do to the taking away of a motorist’s license. That being so, accused will be fined £l5 and not be allowed to get a license to drive again until March 31, 1929. I will allow him fourteen days in which to find the money.