MOTOR OFFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 18

MOTOR OFFENCES

INJURY TO CONSTABLE STRUCK BY BACKING CAR NEGLIGENT DRIVING CHARGE A charge of negligently driving a car on the Great South Road on December 18 was brought against Arundell Harry Smith, a taxi-driver, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Constable Thomas Donaldson Elms said he was cycling toward Ellerslie, on the correct side of the road, and saw defendant's car when 50 or 60 yards away from it. Ho would have passed it safely, but defendant backed out from the, kerb, so that witness could not avoid him. Hitting the car, witness was swung round so that his arm went through the roar window on the, left side, an artery being severed. Defendant gave witness all possible attention until the arrival of the ambulance. Defendant said he looked round while ho was backing the car out, but did not see the 'cyclist. He was backing out very slowly. "1 think he was absolutely wrong to back an inch if he could not see where lie was going, but as ho was very good to the injured man after the accide.it I am going to make the penalty a light one," said the magistrate, imposing a fine of £1 and costs. Damage to Telephone Box Charges of negligent driving, and causing damage to a telephone booth, were brought against Francis Herbert Whitham and Lilly Darley before Mr. W. E. McKcan, S.M. Senior-Sergeant Cahvell said that Mrs. Darley was going along the New North Road and turned to the right at Wairiri Road. Whitham was coming up to pass her, on the intersection, and a collision occurred, a telephone box being damaged as a result of the accident. Mrs. Darley had been negligent in failing to make sure it was safe to make the turn, and Whitham had broken the regulations by attempting to pass on an intersection. Mrs. Darley was fined 40s and Whitham was fined 20s on the negligent driving charges, and both were ordered to pay £2 10s 6d toward the repairing of the telephone box. Taxi Overcharge Appearing before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., David Shannon, a taxidriver, pleaded guilty to charging more than the prescribed fare. A fine of £2 and costs was imposed. In speeding cases, where motorcyclists and motorists travelled at speeds up to 45 miles an hour, the penalties ranged from 10s to £2 10s. For breaches of the parking regulations 23 offenders were fined amounts from 5s to 10s.