WOMAN INTOXICATED

Franklin Times, Volume XXX, Issue 123, 3 November 1941, Page 4

WOMAN INTOXICATED

WHILE DRIVING A CAR BENCH IMPOSES FINE IMPRISONMENT NEXT TIME The peculiar zig-zagging of a small sedan car on the Great South Road, led to a resident of Papakura on a recent evening telephoning the police about its funny little antics. The police promptly made a search of the road and discovered the erratic vehicle parked near Beach Road. An alcoholic flavour within the said car made the custodians of the law a little more curious and they questioned the driver who* happened to be a woman. The woman, her age was given as 38, appeared before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., on Thursday at the Papakura Court, charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a car. She pleaded guilty. Giving particulars of the incident, Sergeant T. 11. Dyer said he was informed by a resident that a car had been driven very erratically along the Great Soutli Road. He and Constable Gains found the defendant in her car parked near Beach Road. On questioning defendant the Sergeant said Her speech was muddled and her breath smelt of spirits. It was about 9.25 at night and defendant had become a definite menace on the road. One car had to go over on its incorrect side to escape being run into, while on her incorrect side another car approached and in trying to pass both cars caught each other a slight glancing blow.

Defendant, said the Sergeant, was examined by Dr. Warren Young who certified her as being under the influence and not fit to drive a car. Mr S. D. Rice said his client was used to an occasional drink, and represented a firm in Auckland. This night she was staying at a local hotel and had had one or two drinks in the hotel lounge. She. then went for a drive in the fresh air, and as soon as she found she was not in a fit condition to drive she pulled up. Counsel, in asking the Magistrate to make the punishment as lenient as possible, said his client had been under considerable mental stress since last week and that if her license was suspended she would lose her occupation.

The Magistrate in fining the woman £ls and suspending her driving license for 18 months, said: “Had you been a man you would have gone to gaol and if you come before me again you certainly will.” The Magistrate ordered defendant to pay the doctor’s fee of £1 Is.