“HIT AND RUN” DRIVERS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 September 1930, Page 12

“HIT AND RUN” DRIVERS

CONCERN IN AMERICA

AUTHORITIES STIFFENING UP

Apparently when they set their minds to the task the New York police are capable of runnings down someone wanted, though it is commonly believed, and with some apparent grounds, that their efforts are not always pushed as far as they might be. The particular instance just now is one in which William Clark, of Island Heights, N.J., was arrested after the police had spent a week combing garages all over the city with a piece of glass from a headlamp. It was eventually found to be missing from Clark’s car, and Clark was placed under arrest on a charge of being responsible for the death of one Jacob Newman. Newman was struck and killed by a car on the inidSundav of July, and the piece of glass was picked up at the spot where the accident happened.

America is becoming exceedingly 1 concerned over the matter of the "hit | and rim'’ driver, and the type is becoming an ‘‘outlaw’’ in every State. The system generally throughout the Union is that which has been adopted in New Zealand; the responsibility is on the motorist to report it at once. In every State this is compulsory, not merely when personal injury is concerned, hut even where it is a case of | property damage alone. In Southern California the police I authorities are now. strictly enforcing this provision of the law. Failure to stop when involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person subjects the offender to punishment for felony, with a possible sentence of five years’ imprisonment. If only property lias been damaged the offender may be committed to prison for a year. Olivers of the vehicles involved must allow the other parties to se© their licenses, and must assist in obtaining medical attention for persons injured. Failing to comply with this section of' the Act i carries a. penalty of a year’s imprison-1 ment. I