INTOXICATED DRIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20264, 25 May 1929, Page 12

INTOXICATED DRIVER.

FINE OF £SO IMPOSED.

MAN'S LICENCE CANCELLED. EPISODE IN GREAT SOUTH ROAD. .As a result of a collision in Great South Road, near Penrose, at 6.30 on Thursday evening, a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car was preferred against Alexander Hawthorne, aged 42, a piano-tuner, in the Police Court yesterday. Mr. Allan Moody, who appeared for Hawthorne, entered a clea of guilty. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said accused was driving a motor-car along the Great South Road toward the city when he met another car coming in the opposite direction. The driver of the other car saw that accused was dodguig all over the road, and although he endeavoured to steer clear a collision took place. Accused drove on and the other man turned his car and followed him. "Such was accused's erratic driving that the man could not pass him to get in front of hirri to stop him," continued 11 r. McCarthy. "Accused swerved all over the road and then drove along within a few inches of the kerb on the wrong side. The other man finally stopped him and called a constable, and accused was taken to the Newmarket Police Station. There he was asked if he wanted a doctor, but ho did not take the opportunity. Two constables and the other driver all say that accused was drunk. He has not been before the Court before."

Asking for leniency, Mr. Moody said accused admitted having taken a few drinks. It was possible that after the collision he had lost his judgment, end when he reached the pplice station did riot take the opportunity to call a doctor. He was a piano-tuner, and used his motor-car for the purpose of his business. No great damage had been done. * The man was not really drunk, but just incapable to such an extent that he could not safely drive. "I would ask that you do not cancel accused's licence, but endorse it," concluded Mr. Moody. "He is prepared to tako out a prohibition order. What you have to think of is tho effect of taking away his licence." The Magistrate: Mr. F. K. Hunt: What I have to think of now is whether to give him imprisonment. Fines do not seem to stop this offence. Mr. Moody said accused lived in Auckland and drove his car to the Haural-ji Plains, where he was going shortly. Mr. Hunt: He will go on a bicycle, then.

A fine of £SO was imposed, accused's licence being cancelled for 12 months.