DRUNK AT THE WHEEL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 11

DRUNK AT THE WHEEL

FINE OF £20 IMPOSED

Alexander Campbell, aged 55, pleaded guilty in tho Magistrate's Court today to.having been intoxicated while in charge of a mctor-car yesterday afternoon. ■ .

SoniorrSergeant Lander said that at about 4.30. : o'clock" Traffic Inspector Walker saw the accused driving his car along Customhouse quay. He seemed to be in a state of intoxication, and the inspector followed him, stopping him and holding him until tho polico arrived. The constable who camo up was also of the opinion that tho accused was undor the influence of liquor. Campbell was taken to the polico station, but was subsequently bailed in tho sum of £25. On 17th February, 1928, continued the senior sergeant, he was similarly charged at Petone, where, although he was not found guilty of being drunk in chargo of the car, ho was convicted and fined £10 for negligent driving. Mr. W. E. Leicester said that Campbell had been driving a car for the last twenty years. He was steering quite a straight course' along the quay yesterday afternoon, and it was not until he attempted to back that it was seen that anything was amiss. A doctor examined Campbell an hour later, and certified that, although he was quite steady on his feet, he was acting in a silly manner. "He was winking at tho doctor and at everybody else," added counsel. Tho accused was a man who was used' to taking liquor, and ho had too many friends who invited him to indulge. He was willing to tako out a prohibition order, a course which , counsel agreed would prevent any repetition of the offence.

Mr. W. G. Biddoll, S.M.: '.'Defondant, you must know as well as I do the danger of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-ear. We have quite enough accidents when drivers are sober, without increasing the risk by having-them drunk.' 1

A fine of £ 20, in default one month's imprisonment, was imposed. In addition, Campbell's license was suspended for twelve months.