DRUNKEN MOTORISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 10

DRUNKEN MOTORISTS.

IMPRISONMENT INFLICTED AUCKLAND, July 5. In the Police Court Austin Gilbert Durban, aged 50 ■' ears, a taxi driver, was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car. Accused’s taxi crashed into another car, which got across the tramline, and the tram crashed into accused’s car. This was the first case since the magistrate (Mr J. W. Poynton) announced that in future offenders for offences of this nature w’ould be sentenced to imprisonment.

FINE OF £2O IMPOSED. CHRISTCHURCH, July 5. To-day, at the Rangiora Magistrate’s Court, Oliver James Ball, aged 23 years, Was fined £2O for being in charge of a motor car while in a state of intoxication. Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided. Mr E. D. R. Smith appeared for defendant and pleaded guilty to the two charges, one of being in charge of a motor car while in a state of intoxication, and the other of driving in a manner dangerous to the public. Mr Smith urged that the magistrate should take into consideration the defendant’s youth and certain extenuating circumstances, and inflict a fine. On the first charge a penalty of £2O was imposed, and on the second defendant was ordered to pay 7s costs. The evidence showed that while driving in Victoria street, Rangiora, on the evening of June 21 defendant collided with a spring cart containing a boy aged 13 and a girl aged 15. As a result of the collision the children were thrown out on to the road and the harness of the cart was damaged. An order for the suppression of defendant’s name was refused.