DRIVERS IN COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 10

DRIVERS IN COURT

INTOXICATION CASE SEVEN DAYS' IMPRISONMENT COMMENT BY , MAGISTRATE A company director, Thomas Arthur Daley, married, aged 47 (Mr. Bryce Hart), pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday to a charge of being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Symonds Street .011 Friday night. Sub-Inspector Calwell said accused's car collided with a safety zone at 11.50 p.m. Hearing tho crash a constable went to investigate, ami noticed accused was under the influence of liquor. A doctor certified that he was unlit to drive at 12.30 a.m., but it was not as bad as some of the cases. Counsel said accused was used to liquor, but had been working long hours, and after a busy day was very tired, which probably accounted for his condition. Another car suddenly starting out from the kerb in front of him caused him to swerve, so that his car cannoned off tho safety zone. The loss of his licence would mean the loss of much business to accused, and counsel suggested it was a case which might bo met by a fine. "Much as I should like to do so, I cannot find my way to make an exception," said Mr. J. Morling, S.M. "Accused is a man of repute and in a good way of business, but one cannot distinguish between a. man in his position and one in. the humblest. It is not a question of punishing the individual, but of protecting the public. It is necessary to impose a general deterrent against those disposed to take more liquor than they should." Accused was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. His licence was cancelled for' a year. CRASH INTO BRIDGE WHANGAREI PROSECUTION [from our own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Monday A charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor vehicle was admitted by Charles William Swanberg, aged 6-1, in the Whangarei Police Court to-day. He was sentenced to seven days'" imprisonment, and his driver's licence was cancelled for 12 months. Senior-Sergeant A. Henderson said the police noticed Swanberg's vehicle being driven in an erratic manner and finally crash into the side of a bridge. Both the bridge and the car were damaged. Swanberg was definitely intoxicated. OFFENCE AT DARGAVILLE SENTENCE OF SEVEN DAYS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Monday Tn the Magistrate's Court at Dargavillo this morning John Fenton, married. aged 23, appeared before justices charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car in Dargaville 011 Friday. He was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment and his licence was cancelled for the remainder of tlie current year.