CAR DRIVER FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23067, 18 June 1938, Page 19

CAR DRIVER FINED

INTOXICATION ADMITTED MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT Charged with being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Federal Street. City, on Thursday night, Ewan Lindsay Jones, clerk, aged 25 (Mr. Goldstine"), pleaded guilty when he appeared before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in thi> Police Court yesterday. Sub-Inspector Fox said a constahlo found accused holding an emptv beer bottle while sitting behind the oirhMng wheel of his car, which was parked m Federal Street. Two companions, in the back seat of the car, were drinking beer from bottles. When asked to get out of the car, accused staggered, and his general appearance indicated intoxication. "The police doctor who examined him certified that accused was slightly intoxicated,'-' added Mr. Fox. ''Tin; police sergeant on duty in the watchhouse during the examination considered the case was not a bad one." Mr. Goldstine pointed out that th? police doctor made no mention of accused being unfit to drive. Another doctor, called by accused, certified that lie was fit to be in charge of a car. "It is a mild case," counsel continued. "Accused is not used to liquor, and the small amount he consumed went to his head. When the constable arrived accused was not driving, but had stopped in order to recover from the effects of the liquor." The magistrate said the facts justified his imposing a fine in this case instead of imprisonment. Accused was fined £2O, to be paid by instalments over an extended period. His driving licence was cancelled for two years.