INTOXICATED MOTORIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23669, 29 November 1938, Page 3

INTOXICATED MOTORIST

CORPORATION EMPLOYEE CHARGED FOURTEEN DAYS' IMPRISONMENT Reginald Hector Dillon, u motor driver employed by the Dunedin City Corporation was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment in the City Police Court yesterday morning on a charge of being intoxicated in charge of a motor car. Senior Sergeant Claasen said that at 4 p.m. on Saturday Traffic In* spector Cameron saw the accused leave the wheel of an old type of motor car at the intersection of Wharf street and the Anderson's Bay road. He staggered round to the front of the vehicle, and endeavoured to crank the engine. The inspector was convinced that he was not in a fit state to drive a car and took him to the police station where Dr Evans certified that he was intoxicated. The accused asked for an independent doctor to examine him, but although no fewer than 12 doctors were rung up, not one was available. Mr G. M. Lloyd, who represented the accused, said that this was an unfortunate occurrence for the defendant. The car belonged to a fellow-employee, who could not drive, and who asked the accused to drive him to his crib at Wickliffe Bay. When the car was approaching the Anderson's Bay road it stalled, and the ttention of Inspector Cameron was attracted to it. The accused maintained that when he was taken to the police station he was quite fit to drive, but actually his condition became progressively worse after his arrest. The upshot of the charge would be that the accused would lose his job as a motor driver with the Dunedin City Corporation, which he had held for 20 years. This was his first offence, and he had already spent the week-end in the cells. He was a married man with two children. " This class of offence does not seem to lessen," said Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., Who sentenced the accused to 14 days' imprisonment and prohibited him from driving for one year.