MOTORISTS FINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20628, 29 July 1930, Page 12

MOTORISTS FINED.

CHARGES OF INTOXICATION. COURT SUSPENDS LICENCE. [CV TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORUESrONDL'NT. ] WELLINGTON, Monday. A plea of not guilty in each case was entered by Loslio John Withers, a taxicar driver, aged 21, who appeared in tho Magistrate's Court 10-dav before Mr. W. 11. Woodward, S.M., on charges of assault, using indecent language and being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car. Mr. Mazengarb appeared for Withers and SubInspector Londell conducted the prosecution.

After evidence had been heard, the magistrate described the first two charges as not being serious and lined the defendant £1 on each charge. On the other charge he was convicted and fined £5 and his licence was suspended for a period of 12 months.

Augustus Mitchell Tartakover, wool buyer, said that on July 12 lie called at a service station in Wakefield Street to buy somo petrol. The defendant's car was standing right in front of the pump witness wished to use. The defendant was asked if he would remove his car, but ho refused and used bad language. Argument followed and accused assaulted him. Ho afterwards went to witness and said, "You are not a bad sort of a chap, shako hands." In his opinion Withers was not in a lit -state to drive a car.

George Moir Johnson, service station attendant, said ho asked Tartakover to pull over to another pump which con tained (lie same brand of spirits as tho ono before which tho defendant's car was standing, but he refused. Tartakover asked tlui defendant if ho would movo his car, but defendant also refused. In witness' opinion the defendant was quito capable of driving a car. Sergeant Cleary said that when the defendant was brought into tho police station he was very excited and talkative, but his physical condition appeared to be normal. The defendant admitted hav ing had some liquor during the day. Withers said that on July 12 he drove some people from the Trentham races into town. lie went to tho service station to park his car for tho night and while the car was standing outside the office Tarta kover drove in and asked him to move his car. He said ho would move it as soon as possible. lie had had about five drinks during the da}. In convicting Withers on tho charge of boing intoxicated while in chargo of a car, the magistrate said that it was very unfortunate that Withers earned his liv ing by means of a taxi, but for the protection of the ipblic ho would have to cancel bis licence.

PINE OF £25 IMPOSED. GREAT SOUTH ROAD JOURNEY. Reserved decision in the case in which Patrick Willia'm Brian Simon ton was charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car was given by Mr. F. II Levien, S.M., in tho Otahuhu Police Court yesterday. Tho magistrate said tho history of accused's journey from Auckland to Wiri, where his car was found stationary, showed that defendant was intoxicated, lie had stopped a lorry-driver—a stranger to him—and asked him to have a drink, ho had later bumped into tho lorry from behind, and at Wiri ho had stopped his car in tho middle of tho road. Moreover, when medically examined his condition led tho doctor to coneludo that lie was intoxicated. A fino of £25 and costs. £1 2-\ was imposed.

A SECOND OFFENCE. CASE AT PALMERSTON NORTH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —rKESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Monday. On a charge of being drunk in chirgt ot" a motor-car. F. C. ""Wuikei was linec £2O, and his licence was cancelled for six months. The magistrate i-aid Walker had been fined £IC for a similar offence last November. •