MOTORISTS' OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20118, 1 December 1928, Page 14

MOTORISTS' OFFENCES.

Sir, —Tho motorists want a scale of fines which they may pay to the traffic inspector and so save tho bother of going to a Court Splendid ! Thus a man will, be ablo to offend according to the length of his purse. Of course, no principle of British justice is involved. Anyway, why should principles of British justice interfere with a motorist who is willing to fork out the "damage" when he has broken the law? The now method would savo his valuable time and save the time .of the Court, and everything would bn quite all right. And why not extend the system 1.0 other offences? If I get drunk why should a' constable not be able to 'tag" mo and inform me that tho following day I must pay according to scale ? It would save my time £>nd the. unpleasantness of appearing in a Court, which of course, is a humiliation. If I light a rubbish fire in my garden without authority and endanger my neighbour's house why should the cdptain of the fire brigade not be able to '"tag" me and tell me that the schedule rate of fine wilL be so much? No tother whatever. The point to be considered .is not that my offence should be judged by a magistrate, but that I should be ablo to pay for it without waste of time or Court costs. A system of special discounts might bo introduced to encourage offenders to pay in advance

Hejiumoxorera.