LICENSES AND LOADS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 2

LICENSES AND LOADS

Lorry-drivers’ Offences Instances of overloaded and unlicensed motor-lorries were brought before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., in the Upper Hutt Police Court yesterday, by the Main Highways Board traffic inspector, Mr. J. E. Ainsworth. A fine of £2 and costs was imposed on William Walling, who was charged with operating a heavy motor vehicle without a license. . Inspector Ainsworth said .that on October 26 he observed a motor-lorry on the main rpad at Trentham. On October 30 he interviewed defendant, who admitted that the heavy traffic license had not been paid. The license was two months overdue, and iS/U--was outstanding. Defendant had been warned previously. “The non-payment of the license represents a loss to the Government in revenue which is used for maintenance of roads," observed the inspector. Charles Overend, who was charged with operating a heavy motor vehicle which exceeded the maximum weight allowed on the road, was fined £4 and costs. . , , , - Inspector Ainsworth said he naa weighed the lorry driven by defendant on the Mungaroa Hill, and had found it to weigh 7 tons Bcwt., after 5 per cent had been deducted. That section of the road had a 61-ton limit, which was exceeded by 18icwt. The vehicle was a horse-float returning from a race meeting with five horses, and gear, and passengers. Defendant had. been convicted on three previous occasions for a similar type of offence. Pleas of guilty were entered by George Maxwell to charges of operating a heavy motor vehicle with a greater load than licensed,’and which exceeded the maximum weight allowed on the road. Defen.dajjt was fined 30/and costs on the first charge, and 10A and costs on the second. Inspector Ainsworth said that the horse float driven by defendant was weighed at Te Mania, and found to be 8 tons 12jcwt„ after the deduction of 5 per cent. The road had a 6|-ton limit, which was exceeded by 2 tons 2scwt. The lorry was licensed to carry 8 tons, and this limit was exceeded by 2Jcwt. For defendant,' Mr. A. J. Mazengarb submitted that it was not a-case of intentional overloading, and that defendant was not taking advantage of unfair trading. “This man has no previous convictions, but he was well aware of the loading limits,” observed the Inspector, in charging Richard Horlor with exceeding the licensed load. Defendant was fined £l/14/- and costs. The inspector went on to say that the lorry, which was driven and partowned by Horlor, weighed 4 tons 2 cwt. when it was licensed to carry 3j tons. The lorry was therefore overloaded bj- 12cwt.