Magistrate Penalises Taximen For Dangerous Driving

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 5

Magistrate Penalises Taximen For Dangerous Driving

FOUR FINES OF £4 Four fines of £4 each were imposed by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., on taxi drivers who appeared before him in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to plead guilty to charges of dangerous driving and other traffic breaches. Tho Magistrate declared it was time some of the taxi drivers of the city realised the need for more considerate driving. Arnold Yorke and Charles Andrews were each charged with driving in Main street on March 20 in a manner that might have bcon dangerous to tho public. Appearing for the City Council, whose inspector prosecuted, Mr. J. W. Rutherfurd said that Yorke and Andrews, one with five passengers in his car and the other with four, had driven down Main street from the Princess Hotel to the Square at a speed which they admitted to be between 35 and 40 miles an hour. They drove side by side. “There is no excuse for that sort of thing,” declared the Magistrate, who fined each offender £4, with 10s costs. Frank Dyer, also a taxi driver, was charged with driving over the intersection of Rangitikei street and the Squaro on March 27 in a manner that might have been dangerous to the public. Mr. Rutherfurd said Dyer had driven over the intersection on a wet night at a speed of between 30 and 40 miles an hour. “It seems to me some of these taxi drivers think that so long as they can carry on nothing clso matters. It is time some of them took a pull and decided to travel at a reasonable speed,” said the Magistrate in imposing a similar fine. For failing to give way to trafficapproaching on his right, Athol Paddy was fined £4, with costs 10s. It was stated that ho collided with a light truck at the intersection of Fitzherbert avenue and Park road. His taxi had skidded and got out of control. Other Breaches. * Charged with negligent driving in Fitzherbert avenue on April 3, Howard Maxwell Rough pleaded guilty and was fined £2. Ho came out of the Esplanade into Fitzherbert avenue, and proceeded to light his pipe. Not unnaturally, the car swerved, and a vehicle coming in the opposite direction was unablo to avoid a collision. Rough, it was stated by the police, frankly admitted his carelessness. Colin Raeburn, for riding an unlightcd cycle at night, was fined 10s with 3s costs, and was similarly penalised for having no reflector ou the machine. Arthur Bloomfield, who had no front light, was fined 10s, with costs 3s.