DANGEROUS DRIVING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17229, 8 April 1930, Page 8

DANGEROUS DRIVING

A.A.A. ATTITUDE ECHO OF RECENT PROSECUTION Explaining its attitude iu connection with the prosecution of its members on dangerous driving charges, with special reference to the recent case brought by the Pinko County Council, the Auckland Automobile Association wrote to the Waikohu County Council, which met to-day, in the following terms : “In view of rhe published report that it is the intention of the Piako County Council to communicate with all counties criticising the Auckland Automobile’s Association's legal defence department, I am directed to communicate with each county in our territory furnishing it with particulars of the case which the A.A.A. defended and won and which gave rise to the l’iako County Councils complaint. “The position was that we received a report from our Hamilton agent- that a number of our members living in le Aroha had been prosecuted for dangerous driving. The report stated that the method adopted of testing the speedometer which was used to check the speed of the defendant cars was crude, and tin* watch used in the process was a bs buy proof watch. “This left tlie association no alternative but to take up one of the cases to ensure that all the facts would be brought before the court and a decision obtained as to whether the cheek upon the mem her was an efficient' one. The court apparently decided that the test was not efficient, and dismissed the ease. “Our council feels that- most county councils will he aware 1 licit- the association does not favor dangerous driving. 11 ut the courts have thrown doubt as to whether councils are entitled to allege dangerous driving when the object of the county is to prevent deterioration of county roads. As representative of large contributors to the maintenance of main roads, the association is not likely to encourage their improper use, but that is quite a different mailer from delending a member against conviction for a serious often ee when the methods used to prove that offence are unreliable. The association recommends many of its members to plead guilty where the prosecution is fair and the facts are proved, and it is only where an injustice _ is likely to bo (ione that the association defends. The council of the association assures county councils that its policy is to uphold all reasonable legislation, and 1 feel that this will have been the experience of the majority of the counties.” (V. M. Doyle: T think the least said about it the' better. I move that we merely receive the letter. X think that if men like to drive tit, 50 miles an hour, they should be prepared to defend themselves. , .. The chairman, Cr A. A. Eraser, said when ho read of the case he was prompted to wonder why the A.A.A. defended the motorist concerned. T he letter was received without further comment.