CANCELLING LICENSE OF DRUNKEN DRIVERS

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3614, 15 September 1927, Page 7

CANCELLING LICENSE OF DRUNKEN DRIVERS

Legislation to Make Obligatory Inadvisable

OPINION OB 1 SIR FRANCIS BELL

[“ Times ” Special.] ' [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, Last Nght.

The opinion of the Government concerning penalties for drunkenness while in charge of a motor car was set forth in a statement by Sir Francis Bell in. the Legislative Council today. Replying to a question by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir Francis drew attention to a recent case heard at Palmerston North in which a drunken motorist who ran amok and collided with another car smashing verandah posts and doing other damage was allowed to retain his motor license. Sir Thomas Mackenzie asked Sir Francis if he did not consider the time had arrived for a stiffening up of the Motor Vehicles Act in the direction of making it obligatory to cancel motor licenses in cases of motorists being guilty of such conduct.

Sir Francis Bell said that the fixingof a minimum penalty for drunkenness while in charge ,of a car either by a cancellation of the driver's license or by any other means was considered inadvisable in view of the fact that it was often so difficult to determine the existence of drunkenness, and it was a term so difficult to interpret. The fixing of such minimum penalty would probably have the effect of many cases in which there was an element of doubt being dismissed in order that the minimum penalty would not have to be Inflicted. “It is considered better therefore," ho sdid. "to leave the penalties to the Courts and to private redress for damages, oven though as in all branches of the law certain decisions of the Courts might appear on the face of them to be anomalous. "Proposals arc in hand,” he continued, "to render the law relating to dangerous driving easier to administer through regulations under th e Motor Vehicles Act 1924 which will be shortly issued.” Sir Francis added that the Council invariably struck out minimum penal, ties wherever the Government endeavoured to insert them.