MOTORISTS WARNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22725, 11 May 1937, Page 16

MOTORISTS WARNED

UNREGISTERED SALES INNOCENT LIABLE TO ARREST It is not generally realised by motorists when selling a car that if the transfer is not legally registered the late owner incurs the risk of arrest should the car become involved in an accident. An impressive warning on., the subject was issued by Mr. C. R. Orr-Walker in the Onehunga Police Court yesterday. The issue arose out of a chargo against two men of having failed to register the sale of a motor-cycle, tho owner of which was involved in a charge of speeding and could not bo traced. Reference to tho numberplates revealed that the machine had been, sold by John Douglas Whitcombe to Robert E, Graydon. The latter, however, after paying one instalment, returned the cycle to Whitcombe, but. while relinquishing ownership, ho failed to see that the re-transfer was duly registered, and he could produce no proof thereof. Whitcombo, who described himself as. a commission agent, stated that he had since sold tho machine to "a man in Devonport," again without registering the transfer. He frankly admitted the offence.

The magistrate pointed out to Graydon that should the cycle, which was still registered in his name, become concerned. in an accident, perhaps involving death, ho would undoubtedly be arrested on a charge of manslaughter, and would probably find a difficulty in proving that ho was not the owner of tho machine. Inspector F. Jones, who prosecuted, quoted an instance in which an exactly similar set of circumstances had actually Occurred. The magistrate hold that Graydon had possibly been lulled into a sense of security by handing over the registration certificate and other papers to Whitcombe. He would therefore be fined £2, while Whitcombe, who. he remarked, was an agent dealing in motor vehicles, and should lia\e known better, would be fined, £4,