FINE OF £20

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 64, 13 September 1939, Page 4

FINE OF £20

INTOXICATED DRIVER

A fine of £20 was imposed by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today upon: Joseph Christie McMahon, aged 34, a cabinet maker, who pleaded guilty to, having been in a state of intoxicaUkm while in charge of a car in Feailnjerston Street on Saturday. He was prohibited from obtaining a driving licence until March 1941.

Sub-Inspector D. J. O'Neill said that McMahon went 'to Petone on Saturday afternoon in liis car, and consumed five "handles" of beer. He left on his return to the city about 5.30 p.m. and his erratic driving on the way in attracted the attention of bus and tramway officials. At the railway station he was spoken to by a tramway inspector, and a-constable was called to take him to the police station, where he was found to> be in an advanced ,state of intoxication. A doctor certified that he was unfit to drive.

Mr. J. Meltzer. said that McMahon went to Petone to talk about enlisting with a returned soldier friend. He had five drinks of beer and, according to counsel's instructions, drove normally back to the city. The tramway inspector was somewhat officious, and McMahon voluntarily asked a constable to drive1 his car to the police station. Tfcfjre he sent for a doctor, Avho reported favourably on his condition. McMahon had since arranged to sell the car and he never wanted to drive again.