£50 FINE, £52 COSTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18465, 2 August 1934, Page 6

£SO FINE, £52 COSTS

NEGLIGENT MOTORIST LICENSE CANCELLED COMMENT BY JUDGE (Per Press Association.) WELL!XGTON, tins <lay. A fine of £SO ami court costs .Col J9s, and disqualification from driving for two years was the sentence imposed b\ Mr Justice Blair on Cyril Earquhar Chapman, following his conviction on a charge of negligently driving and causing bodily injury. Payment of the tine was ordered to be, made in equal instalments spread over a vear.

Counsel ashed for leave to call evidence of good character. Ills Honor said lie thought it was not necessary, as he did not doubt that Chapman had a blameless character. lie did not think that .it was a case for imprisonment. Such cases were different, from the ordinary criminal eases.

His Honor said he always heeded a jury’s recommendations. He said punishment was necessary. He had imposed sentences of imprisonment where, there was de,liberate negligence or recklessness. The present case did not possess that feature, and he fully agreed with the verdict of the jury, who had apparently considered that Chapman was temporarily blinded by a bright light 'behind him. Ai! drivers must appreciate that when tlreir vision is obscured they must drive at such a speed as safety demanded, so as to be able to stop in half the distance they could see. Persons who had motor driving licenses had a trust imposed upon them. Inasmuch as' they had certificates. they were regarded ns proper 'persons to have control of motors on public roads. An indication of lack of proper care should be marked by disqu.alifieal ion, recognition thereby being given to the sacred trust imposed on drivers.