RECKLESS DRIVING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 16

RECKLESS DRIVING

"OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT" MAN IN EMPLOYER'S CAR PENALTY OF £ls IMPOSED

"It is obvious accused must have been well and truly intoxicated; that would explain his outrageous conduct," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., yesterday, when Patrick Caniee Hughes was charged in the Police Court with recklessly driving a motor-car in Waterloo Quadrant on September 17. Accused did not appear, but a statement made by him was submitted to the magistrate.

Sub-Inspector Fox, who prosecuted, said that at 4.45 p.m. on Saturday. September .17, accused drove a car out of Bo wen Avenue, across Princes Street and into Waterloo Quadrant at a speed estimated to be between 50 and 60 miles an hour. The circumstances indicated that defendant was probably intoxicated. He made an extraordinarily frank statement that clearly supported that suggestion. As that was the only evidence the police did not consider it right to charge him with that offence instead. "When the car went into Waterloo Quadrant it came into collision with a stationary car 30 yards from Princes Street," said Mr. Fox. "lhe other car was forced on to the lootpath and accused drove on at an accelerated speed without stopping. His number was taken and the matter reported. His explanation was that the car was his employer's and he did not want bis employer to know the car was there. He had had some beer and bad two gallon jars in the car." "Driving in a reckless manner like that ho might have killed someone, said the magistrate. "This is one of those cases that calls for a heavy fine. Accused was fined £ls, with 19s costs and was ordered to pay 32s witnesses expenses. His licence was also ordered to be suspended for the balance of the current term.