SPEED OF SERVICE CARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20518, 20 March 1930, Page 15

SPEED OF SERVICE CARS.

LIABILITY OF OWNER

MOTOR PROPRIETOR CHARGED.

The question whether an owner of a motor' vehicle can be held liable for the speed at which an employee drives the vehicle was involved in a case which came before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Papakura Police Court yesterday, when William Nicholson, motor service proprietor, Hamilton, was charged with operating service cars at excessive speeds. The traffic inspector said he followed two of defendants cars from Manurewa to Drury. Their speed was never less than 38 miles per hour, whereas, under the regulations, the heavier one was not. permitted to exceed 24 miles and the lighter one 30 miles. Defendant had been very dilatory in answering requests _ for the names of the drivers of the vehicles arid consequently had been charged himself. The inspector contended that, defendant was in effect using the vehicles on the occasion, they were engaged in his service. > ,*s

Defendant submitted that the drivers alone were responsible. He stated that he had instructed them not to exceed 35 miles per hour, which, he understood, was permissible. The magistrate said he would take time to consider the point whether the owner could be held liable. •"