PRISON TERM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23018, 21 April 1938, Page 13

PRISON TERM

INTOXICATED DRIVERS CANCELLATION OF LICENCES " OFFENCES TOO COMMON" [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday "Only yesterday one of the leading newspapers in New Zealand felt constrained to publish a leading article pointing out that if magistrates were determined to exercise their powers to the i nil this evil would soon be stamped out." said Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Hamilton Police Court to-day, when sentencing a taxi-driver, Montague Dowding Pouell, aged 30, to 14 days' imprisonment for being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car. The driving licence of accused, who pleaded guilty, was cancelled until May 31, 1940.

Sergeant T. Kelly said accused was seen b.y Constable Crisp to enter premises at Frankton on Saturday night and to emerge with other men who were under the influence of liquor. Accused was unsteady on his feet. He got into his car and drove away. When the constable saw him later he was Quite satisfied that accused was intoxicated. Beer Found in Car Three bottles of beer were found in accused's car, Sergeant Kelly added. A doctor certified that he was unfit to drive. Another doctnr who saw him later considered that accused was sobei enough to drive.

Accused said he had been on duty for 36 hours without a break and was tired. The beer in the taxi belonged to another man.

The magistrate pointed out that accused was in charge of a public vehicle, and that the public were entitled to expect taxi-drivers to leave liquor alone. It was much worse for a taxi-driver to be intoxicated than the driver of a private car. The magistrate said the offences were becoming far too common, and must be checked. A plea of guilty was also entered by George Leonard Brooks, aged 21, a labourer, to a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a car. Sergeant Kelly said Constable Martin's attention was drawn to two men in a car who were shouting in a loud voice. The constable received a complaint that the car had been driven up and down Anglesea Street in a reckless manner. Wakened by Constable When he located the car he found accused and his companion sound asleep. Accused had to be violently shaken before he could be awakened. A doctor certified him to be intoxicated. It was submitted by Sergeant Kelly that a long suspension of licences was one method by which the offences could be stopped. The magistrate said that but for accused's youth he would have imposed a longer sentence. Accused would be detained in the Hamilton lock-up for seven days, and his driver's licence would be cancelled until May 31, 1940.