NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19508, 11 December 1926, Page 15

NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

CASES IN CHRISTCHURGH. A DEFENDANT'S DIFFICULTY. [BY TELEGRAX'H. —OWN correspondent.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Although a vigorous defence was made without the assistance of counsel on a charge of negligent driving, Leonard Ernest Clemens was fined £3 by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, and his licence was sus- I psnded until January 5, 1927. Defendant seemed to be worried as to how he was going to get the car from the Court to the office of the motor firm at which he is employed as a salesman. Defendant: How do I get on if I drive my car to the office? The Magistrate: If you drive a car you go to gaol. Defendant: But I want— The Magistrate: That will do. Stand down. When his car collided with a taxi after crossing the Bower Bridge at New Brighton Athol 1 Stronach, a young man,' did not stop. Two days later he reported the affair to the police, and consequently came before the Court to-day on a charge of negligent driving. The magistrate said that defendant had been before him last week and he had theta suspended his licence for three months. It was questionable whether he should be allowed to go on driving. If he came before the Court again the magistrate would disqualify him from driving for a period of years. He would be convicted and fined £1 and costs. THE QUESTION OF PENALTY. COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , WELLINGTON, Friday. "On a second conviction of this nature I shall seriously consider the question of suspending a defendant's licence whatever his vocation may be," said Mr. J„ H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, when Joseph P. O'Hara, who is employed by a motor firm as a demonstrator, was charged with negligeut driving. Defendant was fined £3 and costs. NO MIRRORS ON LORRIES. —■— ■— - CHRISTCHURGH PROSECUTION [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The regulation that motor-lorries must be provided with projecting mirrors in order that the driver may see traffic in his r&xr is to be enforced in Christchurch. The first prosecutions under this section of the Motor Vehicles Act were brought in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. Acting-Senior-Sergeant Roach said the cases were intended as a warning to drivers of motor-lorries. The defendants were convicted and ordered to pay costs in each case.