MOTORISTS AND THE LAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22518, 8 September 1936, Page 13

MOTORISTS AND THE LAW

Sir —Motorists are now coming before the Court for the most trivial breaches of by-laws and are warned by the magistrate that a second breach will cost the motorist his driving certificate. Motorists are warned that to drive over 30 miles an hour in any borough, even if there is not a sparrow on the road, means prosecution under the new law. For instance, between Auckland and Hamilton no motorist must go more than 30 miles per hour in any borough. Motorists while driving are tempted by traffic officers m motor-cars to pass them, and thereby commit a breach of the law. There is a law passed attempting to prevent bookmaking—this is totally disregarded by the public. There has now been a law passed to prevent motorists going over 30 miles an hour in the city and boroughs, no matter what the conditions may be (there are occasions when it is readily admitted that 10 miles an hour would be dangerous driving). This new law, again, will be attempted to be disregarded by motorists, where the conditions admit of doing so without danger to the public, as all motorists recognise the impracticability of complying, under every condition, with such a law. In other words, the legislation now passed is of . such a general nature affecting motorists that it is impossible to observe it. and will bring the law into contempt. Other nations are speeding up traffic. Dear old conservative England is slowing down traffic in crowded thoroughfares, but she has a population of 45,000.000, while we have a population that would only fill a London suburb. The position of a driver of a motor-car is now filled with so much potential danger that what between driving to the requirements of the new Act., and being regimented in the city by Mr. Bland and his merry men, a motorist's life is not a happy one. Great hosts of motorists are not criminals, and such general restrictive legislation can only bring the law into disrepute, and has a bad moral effect on the community in regard to the observance of the laws of this country. JuBTITIA.