INTOXICATED TAXIDRIVER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 288, 5 September 1928, Page 12

INTOXICATED TAXIDRIVER

FINED £2O AND LICENSE SUSPENDED

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr. E. Page, S.M., John William Rogers, a taxi-driver, aged 29 years, pleaded guilty to being found intoxicated in charge of a motor-car near the intersection of Cuba and Manners Street on Saturday afternoon. He was fined £2O and his license was ordered to be suspended for two months. William Archibald Fraser, a carrier, said that he was with accused all Satur? day afternoon. The taxi was being used for pleasure aud not for business. Rogers had not driven the motor-car until just before his arrest, when he took the wheel from Dixon Street into Cuba Street. Witness had his hand on the wheel all the time. Witness stated that Rogers seemed very run down in health. He had not been home at nights for sleep for over a week, but had managed to get a few hours’ sleep in his motorcur. Mr. W. E. Leicester said his client had formerly been employed by the Railway Department, but had resigned, using his superannuation money to help him to purchase a motor-car. Competition being fairly keen, Rogers had used his motor-car day and night in ‘order to attempt to pay off his instalments on it. Having decided that he must ease up a little, he took last Saturday afternoon off. Accused, continued Mr. Leicester, was living apart from his wife and was supporting the three children of the marriage. Should his license be suspended, continued counsel. Rogers would be forced to give up bis motorcar. which would be seized. Tie would thus be thrown out of employment and would not be able to support his children. Under tlie circumstances' counsel submitted that a fine would meet the ease, “It is unfortunate that this man is a taxi-driver,” said the Magistrate, “but: taxi-drivers know what to expect if they drive while in n state of Intoxication.” Accused was fined £2O. in default two months' imprisonment, and his license was ordered to be suspended for two months.