UNFAIR TO MOTORISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 79

UNFAIR TO MOTORISTS.

CHARGES OF DRUNKENNESS MEDICAL EXAMINATION URGED. CHRISTCHURCH. April 27. A suggestion that the police should place medical evidence before the court in all cases in which motorists are charged with intoxication was mode by Mr C. S. Thomas in the Magistrate’s Court when he appeared for a commercial traveller who pleaaed not guilty to a charge of having driven a motor car while in a state ol intoxication. In their evidence four policemen said that the defendant was intoxicated. three civilians said he was not and the fourth was not sure about the matter. ‘'The whole case, eaid Mr Thomas, ‘ lay be summed up in the words Vfoit ol drink.’ ” Mr Thomas then addressed the magistrate, Mr H A. Young, S.M., as follows“ Your Worship and other magi'* irate* in New Zealand are inflicting Mve.9

penalties for this offence. Yesterday a man was fined £IOO, and others have gone to prison. These penalties are rightly imposed when there is no doubt about the case. The police are trying to be honest, but every man that is brought in is pronounced drunk. The only way out is to have a medical man examine the defendants immediately they are brought in. 'The first thing a man should be told at the police station is that he has the right to be examined by a doctor. Now if your Worship goes to a friend’s house and has a drink of whisky and then becomes involved in an accident, you are liable to be sent to gaol by another magistrate just because a policeman came along. This man is in danger of suffering severely in a way that he may never get over. That is the sort of thing the people of New Zealand are up against to-day.”