INTOXICATED DRIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20352, 5 September 1929, Page 16

INTOXICATED DRIVER.

CAR STRIKES SAFETY-ZONE.

FINE OF £25 IMPOSED.

ISSUE OF PROHIBITION ORDER.

Arrested as ft result of u collision with a safoty zono in Customs f:Hreot West on Tuesday ovening, motorist, Ernest Roy Hood, aged 44, was charged in the Police Court yesterday with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car in Customs Street. For accused Mr. Dickson cnterod a plea of guilty. Outlining tho circumstances of tho case, Senior-Sf/rgoant O'Grady stated accused had drivon his car down Albert Street and into Customs Street West on Tuesday ovening. In Customs Street his car struck a safoty zone, the vehicle being extensively damaged. A constable who came up to make inquiries about tho accident found that accused was not in a fit state to drive. At accused's own request Dr. M. G. Pezaro was called to the watchhouse and ho made a roport on accused's condition. In it he statod that Hood was not drunk, but he was sufficiently intoxicated to mar his judgment and to render him unfit to drive a car.

Mr. Dickson agreed that accused was not drunk and also that ho had takon sufficient liquor to mar his judgment. Another motor-car had como out of Littlo Queen Street when accused was driving down Customs Street and accusbd had been forced to dodge to avoid it. In straightening his own car he had come into collision with tho zone. "If it were not for the collision my client would not be here to-day," continued-counsel. The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: If it were not for accidents we would not get half the men who come up hero on this charge.

Mr. Dickson contended that the case was only a borderline one.

"How do I know that he will not drink again?" asked the magistrate, Mr. Dickson said Hood was willing tc take out a prohibition order and themagistrate agreed that if the order wert taken out accused's licence would not be cancelled. A fine of £26 was then imposed, a condition being that accused should immediately take out a prohibition ordei.

PROBATION FOR CYCLIST.

NEW PLYMOUTH CASE.

DISQUALIFIED FOR LICENCE.

[BY TETEGRARH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. "J NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday.

The magistrate this morning, following his previous practice, sentenced John Cecil Kendall, a motor-cyclist, on a charge of being intoxicated, to one year's probation. Kendall is to take ont a prohibition order and is disqualified for holding a licence.