DRIVER FINED £l5

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22622, 9 January 1937, Page 12

DRIVER FINED £ls

INTOXICATION CHARGE SUSPENSION OF LICENCES STATEMENT BY MAGISTRATE An indication that the driving licences of all motorists convicted of being intoxicated in charge of vehicles would be dealt with except undtr very special circumstances was given by Mr. C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, when he imposed a lino of £ls on Thomas Charles Douglas, seaman, aged 30, who admitted a charge of this nature, and suspended his licence for tho balance of its term. Sub-Inspector Fox said a constable saw a car standing in Jervois Road near tho Three- Lamps at about 6.15 on Thursday evening, and accused and two others approached it. The friends got into tho car while accused, who showed signs of drunkenness, cranked tho engine. As he was about to drive away, accused was stopped by the constable, at whoso direction ho got out of the car. Showing definite signs of intoxication ho was arrested, and 25 minutes afterward a doctor certified that he was unfit to drive. For accused, Mr. Hall Skelton said he was a seaman employed on the scow Hokianga. He lived in Auckland, and had never previously been before the Court. He was the solo supporter of his widowed mother. After battling against the storm during Wednesday, accused came ashore at Auckland at about 2.30 on Thursday, and finished the ship's business, after which ho negotiated the sale of his motor-car, which he was to have handed over to the new owner that day. "No doubt, he would havo driven home all right, had he driven at all, but he didn't," said counsel. "He is a man of tho sea, and it is possible he could stand more drink than the ordinary landlubber. It seems that it is scarcely a case where severity should be enforced." The magistrate said that apparently accused would have no further immediate use for his licence, since he had sold his car. Nevertheless, it should be understood that all licences would be dealt with unless special circumstances arose. Accused was fined £ls and costs £1 Is, and his licence was cancelled for the remainder of its term.