JOY-RIDING SCANDAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20402, 2 November 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

JOY-RIDING SCANDAL.

CARS DAMAGED BY TRIPS. Some idea of the scandal of the §rewing practice of joy-riding in left at Ecgßsb roadsides, is gained from the fact that -each week in the London area about 70 cars are stolen or borrowed-. A police official stated recently that the joy-rider is largely responsible fcr this high figure. As has been pointed out, the joy-rider who takes and aiterwards abandons the car hB has stolen, leaving it mora cftep than not in a damaged condition, is encouraged 'by pressstfc lenient attitude of "ths law. Macistrates are pressing the Some : Office" to make the law clear- Many joyriders plead that they cannot be CTItJ of theft as thev had eo intent to stealAn official of the Automobile Association : " Qax owners shuuld be protected from this growing evil I know of one owner ■whose car has been stolen three times by ipv-ririers. la each case it was abandoned and left far from his home in a damaged/ condition." . Mr. Hay Halkett, the Marylebone magistrate, refused not long ago to accept a i plea cf joy-riding by two meu chaargad •with stealing a motor-car. Ha convicted both cf theft. Ons received sir imprisonment and the_ waft ILsmfii ever* \ '-1 M