“ Too Many Such Cases ”
INTOXICATED MOTOEIST FINED From Our Own Correspondent. HASTINGS, Feb. 15. -mere are too many of these cases— Indeed, there appears to have been one every time I sit in this Court these days and that means that there are far too many for the district,” said Mr J. Miller, S.M., at the Hastings Magistrate’s Court this morning when inflicting a fine of £ls upon James William Hitchings, aged 32 years, who had pleaded guilty to J eil l g found a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car. Senior-Sergeant G. Sivyer said that as the result of complaints from members of the public about the erratic driving of the defendant in the street, the police went to Warren street and there found the defendant in quite a drunken state. He -was so drunk that he had to be assisted to walk. “Actually he was not In the vehicle,” said the police officer “He had stopped it and was walking across the street when the police arrived. Nothing previously was known against him.”
On behalf of the defendant Mr. S. W. Averill said that the defendant, after leaving the hotel, had realised his condition and decided to park his vehicle and get something to eat afitl recover himself before driving home to Haumoana. "He had no intention of driving further when he realised Ms condition,” said counsel, "and since then he has realised the effect that drink has on Mm and has voluntarily taken out a prohibition order.” The Magistrate pointed out that it was fortunate for the defendant that nohing serious had happened whilo in charge of the vehicle. He would take into consideration the fact that ,the defendant had realised the seriousness of his position and would not impose imprisonment, but pointed out that there were too many cases of this kind in the district. In addition to the fine of £ls, the defendant was deprived of the right to hold a driver’s license for 12 months.
On a further charge of being found drunk, Hitchings was convicted and discharged.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 2
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347“ Too Many Such Cases ” Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 2
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