AMUSING PROSECUTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 September 1936, Page 4

AMUSING PROSECUTION

DRIVING WITHOUT LIGHTS

‘MOTOR” PULLED BY OLD HORSE

“This offence is rather hard to define,” said the traffic inspector of the Piako County, Mr D. Morrow, when preferring a charge of driving an unlighted motor vehicle against a 15-year-old lad in the Te Aroha Magistrate’s Court, reports the “N.Z. Herald.” Considerable amusement was caused by the inspector’s story of his dilemma in framing the actual charge and his description of the facts. It appeared that the officer noticed a small motor-truck proceeding along the road at night without lights. He signalled it to stop and when he drew level with it found a young lad sitting in the driver’s seat. A pair of reins extended through the windscreen to the head of an old horse, which was harnessed to the front of of the truck and pulling it along. The truck had no number-plates and the lad had no driving licence. The truck was not in running order and could not have been driven by its own power. It was very old and had been bought as junk for use on the farm. The magistrate, Mr F. H. Levien, smilingly suggested that the charge be amended by deleting the word “motor” since from the description it could hardly be called a motor vehicle. The lad was warned not to take his “vehicle” on the road at night without a light and ordered to pay costs.