SEQUEL TO COLLISION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16450, 6 June 1924, Page 5

SEQUEL TO COLLISION.

♦ A MOTORIST FINED. Following upon a collision between two motor care on the Peel street bridge on May 20, William Henry Smith appeared before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning, to answer two charges under the Borough by-laws. Defendant was charged, firstly, with driving a car without having a certificate of competency, and, secondly, with driving in a negligent manner. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick said that the defendant had been driving the car over the Peel street bridge just at the busy hour. Hei waa Obviously incompetent to drive, and had zigzagged across the bridge in an endeavor to avoid cyclists and other traffic. The Magistrate: What do you mean by incompetent? The Senioi'-Sergeant: It is not suggested that the defendant was intoxicated, but he certainly was incompetent to drive. , The Magistrate: What penalty is provided?

The Senior-Sergeant: £2O, sir. Mr. J. S. Wauchop appeared for the plaintiff, who pleaded guilty to both charges. Mr. Wauchop said the facts were as stated by the police. The defendant was not in the habit of driving by 'himself, but on the day in question he had been detained at the dentist's and had to drive himself home. He left town just at the busy time, and when on the bridge became confused by the excessive traffic. In avoiding two men he had struck the car of Mr. Barton. The defendant had already paid fairly heavily for repairs to the other car. The' Magistrate said that driving without ft liconse was a somewhat serious offence. It was was certainly correct that tho defendant had been punished monetarily already, and on the charge of negligence he would be fined 20s and costs. For driving without a license he would ha fined £3 and costs, cognisance being taken of the fact that it was some time since there had been any prosecution for this particular offence.