MOTORISTS FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22584, 24 November 1936, Page 13

MOTORISTS FINED

INTOXICATION CHAEGES SEQUEL TO COLLISION TRACED BY BROKEN NUMBER CANCELLATION OF LICENCE "Such conduct cannot be tolerated in the streets; this is a very disgraceful case." said Mr. Wyvorn Wilson, S.M.. when convicting John Fay, dealer, aged 35 (Mr. A. Moody), in the Police Court yesterday on charges of being ir. a state of intoxication in charge of a motor-truck in Domain Street, and of negligent driving. Accused pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Fox said a lorry collided with a parked car in Domain Street about six o'clock 011 Saturday evening, but when the car owner arrived lie saw the lorry disappearing. Fortunately the bumper bar of the lorry, to which the number plate was affixed, was broken off. This was taken to the police, and within an hour Constable Gillespie traced accused to his home, where he was found lying in a drunkep sleep 011 a bed. He did not know much about the matter. A doctor certified that he was not in a condition to drive.

Accused was a married man with a fruit round in the North, said Mr. Moody. He was not a man who took licjuor, but he had no food during the day and some liquor that he took affected him. He made no attempt to deny the. affair. Evidence was given by accused's wife that she had not known him to drink before. " This. man was so drunk that he did not know lie had run into a car and lost his bumper," said tho magistrate. "It is fortunate that ho did not run over somebody." Accused was fined £2O, in default one month's imprisonment, and his driver's licence was cancelled for three months. ACCIDENT IN CITY STATIONARY CAR STRUCK A statement that he met a friend he >ad not seen for 15 years and that they had a few drinks together was made in the Police Court yesterday by Richard Llewellyn Claridge, labourer and salesman, aged 32, who admitted being intoxicated in charge of a motorcar in Customs Street on Saturday afternoon. Another motorist whj saw accused's car being driven in erratic fashion at the intersection of Customs and Fort Streets stopped, but accused collided with him, said Sub-Inspector Fox. There was no extensive damage, but a constable was called. He did not at first think there was anything the matter with accused, but later noticed he was intoxicated. A doctor who examined, him 40 minutes later certified that he was slightly nnder the influence of liquor, and although not seriously intoxicated was not fit to be in charge of a car.

Accused said he thought he was all right when he entered the car, but apparently* he had taken more liqtior' than he should have. A fine of £lO was imposed, and accused's licence was suspended until May 31.