DRUNKEN MOTORIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21168, 28 April 1932, Page 12

DRUNKEN MOTORIST.

THIRD OFFENDER FINED £SO. WARNING BY MAGISTRATE. " HAVE TO TRY IMPRISONMENT." "[ nm seriously considering sending drunken motorists to gaol, instead of fining them," declared Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday when Angelo Phinix, aged 37, telegraph clerk, pleaded guilty to an allegation that lie had been found in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday the Mount Eden polico were advised that a motor-car. driven by an allegedly drunken man, had collided with another car, driven by Canon W. Fancourt, at the corner of Park Road and Kliyber Pass Road. The former car, the police were told, did not stop after the accident, but was driven at a fast rate along Boston Road, where another minor collision occurred, and into Normanby Road. A constable proceeded to Normanby Road and found accused endeavouring to adjust a bumper which had been partly torn off as the result of the first collision. "The constable reported that accused was so much affected with drink that he could hardly speak; lie was in such a stale that the constable would have been prepared to arre„st, him on a charge of simple drunkenness," continued Mr. Kelly, who added that accused had twice previously been convicted on a similar charge The Magistrate: What's that! He has been here before'! I think we had better change his address for a while. Counsel said accused suffered from an impediment in his speech and this would make him appear to bo more intoxicated than ho really was. Accused, who held a responsible position in tho telephone exchange, was one of those unfortunate people who could not stand alcoholic liquor in any form. The accident, however, was not so much due to his condition as to the fact that the sun was shining in his eyes. "I think we will have to try imprisonment on these motorists, as we have done with the shoplifters." remarked Mr. Hunt. He said fines did not appear to have had much effect on accused, who had been convicted on intoxication charges in May, 1930, and in September of the same year. On the first occasion accused had been fined £ls and on the second offence he had been fined £SO and debarred from holding a licence for 12 months.

Phinix was fined £SO, in default three months' imprisonment, and his drivers licence was cancelled, no other to be issued for three years. Seven days were allowed for payment of the fine. INTOXICATED IN CAIi. HORSE TRAINER'S OFFENCE. "LAW FOR SAFETY OF PUBLIC." [FROM oun OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON, Wednesday. "The preservation of human life is of much nioro importance than that a man should keep his licence as a trainer of trotting horses," said Mr. Wvvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court this morning, when William Frederick Saunders appeared on a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a car. Accused pleaded guilty. Constable Ivirby stated that he had received a complaint of accused's car being driven in an erratic manner in Hamilton East yesterday, lie watched the car and saw accused enter it and drive away. Witness stopped him. Accused was intoxicated. Counsel said accused was a farmer, stock dealer and trotting hore trainer at Bruntwood. Accused admitted having taken liquor, but considered he was fit to drive his car well. Counsel said a conviction would mean that accused would lose his licence to train trotting horses, while his car was essential to him in his business as a stock dealer. The magistrate pointed out that the law with regard to persons intoxicated in cars was framed for the safety of the public. Accused was fined £lO and he was disqualified to hold a driver's licence until May, 1953.