INTOXICATION DENIED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19081, 28 July 1925, Page 11

INTOXICATION DENIED.

ONEHUNGA MOTORIST FINED. ENDORSEMENT OF LICENSE. ''These offences aro getting very frequent," said Mr. W. R. McKcan, S.M., in tho Onehunga Police Court yesterday, when convicting Frederick Weiss for having been in charge of a motor-car while intoxicated. The circumstances were unusual, in that defendant did not actually drive tht; car himself. Constables Johnson and Poll said they saw defendant standing by his car, opposite the Post Offico Hotel, a little before six o'clock. They told him to put on his lights, but he refused. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Weiss arrived with a man, who took the wheel, defendant sitting in the back seat. On being challenged further up the street, the driver admitted hi- had no license. At about seven o'clock a telephone message reported trouble in Trafalgar Street, and when Constable Poll arrived ho found tho car again with no lights, so that soveral vehicles narrowly escaped running into it. Tho driver, Wm. Herbert Ross, was there, and ho told the constable ho had himself telephoned for tho police, as the defendant had not returned, although he said ho was going homo for a light, taking tho switch key 'with him. The driver stated ho was merely doing a kindly act, as Mrs. Weiss had asked him to drive them home. Defendant denied being in charge of tho car while intoxicated and stated ho took out tho key because tho back wheel was out of order. Ho also contradicted tho statement that tho police had asked him about the lights. The magistrate said that defendant was certainly in charge of tho car when the constabfo first challenged him for having no lights, and he later on resumed charge by taking out tho key. It was probably fortunate for him that tho constablo had spoken to him for otherwise ho did not know what might have happened. The magistrate fined him £ls and costs and ordered that his license bo endorsed. For having no lights on his car, defendant was fined 20s and costs.