DRUNK AT WHEEL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13092, 13 February 1937, Page 5

DRUNK AT WHEEL

MAN SUBMITS TO BLOOD TEST. DELAY IN TESTING MAKES IT USELESS. FINE OF £2O IMPOSED. (Press Association) AUCKLAND, Fab. 12. The unusual course of taking „a blood sample with the object of determining whether or not a man charged with driving a motor car while intoxicated Avas guilty or innocent was adopted in Auckland recently, according to eAudence given in a case beforo Mr. O. It. Orr Walker, S.M. in the Police Court. Actually the sample Avas not tested, however, for it was taken at Auckland hospital after 2 o’clock at night and the blood Avas not in a suitable condition next morning when the test Avas about to be made. The case concerned a motor mechanic, William Fcrdon Fast, 29, Avho was charged Avith being intoxicated while in charge of a car on January 22. Counsel said Dr. Huso Avas so satisfied that defendant Avas sober that he advised him to submit to a 'blood test. “My impression was that he Avas riot under the influence of alcohol,” said Dr. A. A. Huse, in evidence. Witness explained that, when he bad communicated with the Auckland hospital that night, he had been informed that they could make the test next morning. HoAvever, the hospital rang him up stating that the test had not been made the previous night and the sample was then no good. Defendant was fined £2O, his driving license was suspended for the present term and Avas cancelled for 12 months beginning with the new license year.