INTOXICATED DRIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19632, 10 May 1927, Page 10

INTOXICATED DRIVER.

AN EXPENSIVE ACCIDENT.

BETTING MATERIAL SEIZED.

TWO FINES AMOUNT TO £225.'

CANCELLATION 'OF LICENCE.

[BY TELE Git APH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT, j)

DUNEDIN. Monday. A collision with a cable car in Stuart Street on Sunday night, May 1, proved an expensive accident for Gustave Johnson. To-day in the Policy Court he was fined. £25 for driving a motor-car while in a state of intoxication and his licence was cancelled for three years. He has, according to his counsel, lost his claim against the insurance company and a woman passenger in the tramcar intends to proceed against him for damages. Johnson pleaded guilty. That driving a car while in a state of intoxication was a most serious offence should be impressed upon drivers, and they imlst have all th6ir faculties about them, stated the magistrate. Defendant had been, out all night, he had been drinking, and he had a drunk companion in the car. That accused was drunk was exemplified by the statement of his counsel that he thought he was in High Street.

" I am considering this, matter carefully whether to impose a term of imprisonment or a fine," continued tho magistrate. " A number of men have been before the Court recently and fines have been imposed. It seems ~as if this is insufficient to prevent men driving cars when intoxicated. The licence will be certainly cancelled whatever is done. I have very grave hesitation in not sending the accused to gaol without any option. Etowever, on the present charge he will be fined £25, in default one pionth's imprisonment. Tho licence is cancelled and lie will bo prohibited from driving for three years. He is also ordered to pay £1 Is expenses."

When arrested Johnson had a double chart and a book of bets in his pockets. He had had two previous convictions, one in 1921 for bookmaking, when he was fined £SO, and the other in February last, when ho paid £IOO to the Statei as a penalty for street betting. " The man who continues deliberately to break the law must be punished," said the magistrate, when he fined Johnson £2OO for carrying on the occupation of a bookmaker.