INTOXICATED DRIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 13

INTOXICATED DRIVER.

" NOT A SERIOUS CASE."

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE. PROHIBITED FROM LIQUOR. To be prohibited from liquor for a year was part of tho punishment imposed on James Ivan Turner, aged 29, motor-driver, married,, who pleaded guilty in tho Police Court yesterday to a charge of having been in a state of intoxication while in control of a, motor-van in Gillies Avenue a week ago.

[t was stated accused was involved in a slight collision with another car. "It is not a serious case," said Sub-Inspector McCarthy. "Accused was not drunk when he was arrested but ho had taken sufficient liquor to make him unfit to be in charge of a car." For accused, Mr. Moody said Turner had been employed by the same firm for three years. He had had a few drinks and had become intoxicated. Counsel asked tho Court to take into consideration the fact that.tho police had described tho case as not a serious one. Counsel hoped accused's licence would not be interfered with as ho was employed as a driver. Tho magistrate, Mr. F. Iv. Hunt, said it appeared to hira that van-drivers who were charged with intoxication seemed to assume that a magistrate was frightened to take away their licences because they earned their livelihood at the wheel. However, it was said by the polico that it was not a bad case. "I think I shall shield behind that and not take away his licence this time," said tho magistrate. He warned accused not to drink again and instructed his employer, who described Turner as being a faithful servant, to dismiss accused if he drank. Accused was prohibited for a year and fined £ls and costs.