INTOXICATED DRIVERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20521, 24 March 1930, Page 11

INTOXICATED DRIVERS.

SEQUEL TO A COLLISION. "LUCKY NOT TO BE GAOLED." FINE AND LICENCE CANCELLED. As a result of a collision between a taxicab and a stationary private car in Symonds Street on Friday evening, Ernest James Gait, aged 37, appeared in the Police Court on Saturday morning charged with being intoxicated while in charge of the taxi. Accused was represented by Mr. Alan Moody and pleaded guilty. - Mr. Moody said ho wished to make it clear that accused was not a taxi-driver. He was the manager of a taxi concern, and although he held a taxi licence ho did not driv® except in cases of emergency. He had had some drinks on Friday night, two whiskies and a cherry brandy,. and it was admitted that ho was slightly drunk. As he was going down Symonds Street labout 10.40 p.m. he saw a car ahead of him, near the intersection of Symonds Street and Wakefiold Street. The lights of the other car were on and accused thought it was moving. He kept behind the car instead of swinging out to the right to pass it, and hit it with a fairly severe crash. Counsel said both cars were very badly damaged and accused was considerably knocked about. "In fact, he was stunned in both senses of the term," said Mr. Moody. Accused was married and had one child, and while the offence was a serious one, it was not as grave as it would have been if he had been a taxidriver.

The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: He may consider himself lucky not to be gaoled. If he had been a taxi-driver 1 would have sent him to prison without hesitation.

Sub-Inspector McCarthy said Mr. Moody's account of the circumstances had made it unnecessary for him to say anything in addition. There was no 4 0u bt that accused was very drunk. Gait was fined £SO, with costs £l, and his licence was cancelled for 12 months. COSTLY CELEBRATION. CARRIER FINED £SO. "I cannot show any leniency to accused, who is a master carrier and became drunk while in charge of a car at one of the busiest periods of the day," said the magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday morning, when John Reginald Herring, carrier, aged 50, was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car. Accused, who was represented by Mr. Holmden, pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said accused was seen in a car in company with two other men at the corner of Federal Street shortly after six o'clock on Thursday evening. He was intoxicated and was attempting to start the motor-car. He was arrested by the police and removed to the station, where a doctor examined him and found him incapable of being in charge of a car.

Mr. Holmden said accused was a man who for months at a time did not touch any drink. On Thursday afternoon he had inspected a launch which he proposed to purchase, and after the inspection he went to a hotel with two other men to celebrate the deal. As a result he soon lost control of himself. Accused had had a lot of worry and for some time past he had been very depressed. In making a request for leniency Mr.. Holmden said accused was prepared to take out a prohibition order. If his licence was to be cancelled counsel asked that it be only for a short period, as accused would bo seriously affected in his business.

The magistrate 6aid lie took a serious view of the case. Accused depended upon his licence for his living, and he should have been more careful.

Herring was fined £SO and costs, in default three months' imprisonment, and his licence was cancelled for 12 months.