DRUNKEN MOTORISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 17

DRUNKEN MOTORISTS.

PROSECUTIONS AT PAHIATUA. PAHIATUA, July 1 Arthur S. Winter, a farmer, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor car while in a state of intoxication ; also to driving in a manner dangerous to the public. On the latter count he was fined £10; and on the first charge his license was suspended till-. March 31, ,1927. The police said the incident happened as defendant was returning from a clearHis car struck another, and damage resulted to Winter’s car also (slightly) to the other car. The Magistrate said he did not believe in the infliction of heavy penalties in this class of case, which was contrary to the opinion of some other magistrates. Fines up to £7O had been inflicted and the law provided for a penalty of £IOO, or three months’ imprisonment. It did not necessarily follow an- offender would be fined—that was only part of the penalty, and the -ther part was gaol. It was perfectly right that a somewhat .evere penalty should attach to the law. There were some men who should never drive a car. It had been given as an opinion by one Supreme Court judge that physiologically one whisky made a man unfit to control a car. as it dulled his keen edge of perception and made him that little bit extra reckless which was sufficient to bring him into trouble. With high powered cars instant adaptability was necessary, and the time was coming when it would be foolish for any driver of a car to have any liquor whatever. Counsel pointed out that defendant had two farms, 14 miles apart, and his car waa the only means of communication. The Magistrate said he was aware of the severity of the punishment, but there were hundreds doing the same every day as defendant had done, and they had to be shown some example. His viewpoint was that to stop these offenders driving was the best remedy. He was.not prepared to alter his decision. A youth, Arthur Vernon Stevens, for unlawfully converting a car to his own use, was fined £5. On a charge of driving the same car while in a state of intoxication, his license waa suspended till March 31 next.