INTOXICATED MOTORISTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 96, 10 April 1926, Page 7

INTOXICATED MOTORISTS.

“FINES NOT EFFECTIVE.” Auckland, April 9. “Yesterday and also the day before fines of £l6 wdre imposed on intoxicated motorists, but 1 think that fines are not effective,” observed Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Pdlice Court this morning, when Andrew Francis Donoghue (30) came before him charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car last night. Mr. Allan Moody appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said that Donoghue, at about 9 p.m., while driving his car. had to swerve in order to miss colliding with a taxi. Later on he nearly collided with a street convenience and* drove on to the kerbing of a footpath. Constable McKenzie had to call on the accused three times before lie stopped his car. An empty whisky bottle was afterwards found in the car. Mr. Moody said that while a doctor had certified that Donoghue was not drunk, there wa> no doubt that he bad had some liquor. However, it was not alleged that Donoghue had travelled at anything but a slow speed. That was a pleasing feature. The accused had to make a sharp turn and probably his judgment was not quite correct. It was generally known that cars fitted with balloon tyres wore difficult to steer sometimes. Counsel said that the case was not as bad as the two other cases which came before the Magistrate this week, and he suggested that a fine should be inflicted rather than send Donoghue to gaol. In addition to inflicting a penalty of £l5 and costs. Mr. Hunt suspended Donoghue’s driving license for six months.