SEVERE PENALTY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 196, 2 August 1934, Page 6

SEVERE PENALTY

Negligent Driving Charge TRUST UPON MOTORISTS £5O Fine and Licenie Cancelled By ralsgiaph-Broes Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 2. A line of £5O, Court costa £5l 19/- and disqualification from driving lor two years was the sentence imposed by Mr. Justice Blair on Cyril Farquhar Chapman, following conviction on a charge of negligently driving and causing bodily injury. The payment of the fine was ordered to be made in equal instalments spread over a year. Counsel asked leavo to call evidence of good character, but His Honour thought it was not necessary, as he did not doubt that Chapman bad a blameless character. He did not think it was a case for imprisonment. Such cases were different from the ordinary criminal cases. His Honour said he always heeded the jury’s recommendations but he said, punishment wae

necessary. H e hud imposed sentences of imprisonment where there had been deliberate neglect or recklessness. The pres, ent case did not possess that feature and he fully agreed with the verdict of the jury, who had apparently considered that Chapman had been temporarily blinded by the bright light behind him. All drivers must appreciate the fact that when their vision was obscured they must drive at such a speed as safety demanded, so as to be able to stop in half the distance they could see. Persons who had motor driving licenses had a trust imposed upon them, inasmuch as they had certificates that they were proper persons to have control of motors on public roads. Indication of ‘ack of proper care should be marked by disqualification, recognition thereby being given to the sacred trust imposed on drivers.