DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

Manawatu Times, 4 May 1926, Page 8

DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

MAGISTRATE INFLICTS FINE,

"One has only to look at the papers to see that this is a very serious offence,” said Mr. J. L. Stout. S.M., in thc Magistrate’s Court yesterday when a man named Carter, a farmer, pleaded guilty to having boon drunk in charge of a motor-car on the Fitzhcrbert West road or Saturday. Carter also admitted further charges that ho drove an unlicensed vehicle, and that he did not hold a motor driver’s license.

Senior-Sergeant O’Grady said the three charges arose out of the same .set of circumstances. On Saturday morning a complaint was received by the police that two men were lying asleep in a car on the Fitzhcrbert West road. When the police arrived at 11 o’clock, one of tin* men was trying to start thc car. They had been on a drinking bout during the night, and had in their possession a halfbottle of whisky and two bottles of beer. Hail Trouble With Car. Mr. J. P. Innes, who appeared for defendant, said there were certain mitigating circumstances. Carter was a returned soldier and a married man with a family. He had been wounded and whenever he took liquor it affected him immediately. He had had trouble with tho car and had been out all night so ho, went to an hotel to get some liquor. After breakfast thc” car went wrong again and ho and his friend, realising it was useless to attempt to drive home, decided to sleep off the effects of thc liquor. Before they recovered they were seen. As his client bore a good character and this was his first appearance in Court, ho would ask for a light line. Carter’s companion, Walter Kennedy, a labourer, who • was then called, also pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a motor-car. The Senior-Sergeant explained that both men had been driving the car. Kennedy, who was an ox-Weraroa boy was to appear later on other charges. Kennedy and Carter were each fined £5 and costs, in default one month’s imprisonment, for being drunk in charge of the car. Carter was fined £1 and costs on each of the other two charges.

Other Charges Against Kennedy. Kennedy later pleaded guilty to using a motor-cycle without number plates affixed. ‘ riding a motor-cycle without holding a driver’s license and to riding a motor-cycle in a manner dangerous to thc public. A constable estimated that defendant was travelling at 40 miles an hour. Mr. Stout inflicted a fine of £l and costs on tho first two charges and of £5 on tho third.