UNATTENDED MOTORS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 273, 23 May 1907, Page 4

UNATTENDED MOTORS.

[per press association.] Dunedin, May 21. Mr Widdowson, S.M., gave his decision this morning in a case brought under the city by-Taws against Ralph Heywood for leaving a motor-car standing in a street. Mr Widdowson pointed out that Heywood certainly came under the definition of "driver" as laid down in the. by-laws. But the by-laws seemed to say that even if a person left someone in attendance on a motor-car or vehicle so long as he allowed it to stand in a public place without reasonable excuse he could be prosecuted. Then yet another by-law permitted vehicles to stand alongside a footpath in streets where there are tramlines. "On the whole." said the Magistrate, "I must say that this by-law, to my mind at any rate, is not free from doubt, and it is to my mind uncertain whether defendant can be convicted under the by-law. I purpose to dismiss the case without prejudice and leave it in the hands of the police to prosecute if they think fit." Sub-Inspector Norwood intimated that he intended to lay a fresh information under section 39 of the by--1&W8 Mr Widdowson temarked that it would be well to have the matter carefully looked into. The by-laws were framed before the introduction of motor-cars. The Sub-Inspector replied that there was provision in the statute law to meet the case, the Police Offences Act making it an offence to wilfully or negligently encumber or obstruct a public place.