DRIVERS AND LIQUOR DOCTOR CRITICISES POLICE COURT’S VIEW DEFINED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19269, 10 March 1937, Page 14

DRIVERS AND LIQUOR

DOCTOR CRITICISES POLICE

COURT’S VIEW DEFINED

An opinion that there was a somewhat enthusiastic tendency on the part of the oolite, in view of recent legislation, to swing the pendulum very much against motorists where there was only the slightest suggestion of intoxication was ;iven by Dr. M. G. Pezaro in the Auck-

land Police Court, when he was giving nedical evidence in a case in which a motorist was charged with intoxication.

“1 have heard this matter repeatedly Harassed, and. along with the many mess accounts of intoxication charges, it ippears that if a man who has one glass d liquor, and whose breath smells of

liquor, has the misfortune to be involved in a minor accident, be stands to suffer •i severe penalty,” said Dr. Pezaro.

“There may be a grave danger of the matter being carried too far,” Dr. Pezaro continued. “In view of the wide controversy on the subject, there is .» possibility that it. has not been unnecessnrilv overdone. There is no gainsaying that it is in the best interests of tile community. It has probably been a dist tinet deterrent and broken the drinking propensities of drivers.”

When Sub-Inspector Fox objected in “these wide allocations against Ibe police,” Dr. Pezaro said the fact remained, and be disagreed that his statement might create a false impression with the public. The magistrate. Mr. 0. P. Orv Walker, said the action of the police bad probable ''non forced on them by public opinion. Thov bad a do tv to perform, and (he "ourt was required to check no all i !, r' details and treat the offence as if shoo'd t”pnf°d. T t, was a matter for rrntifiration that the court’s attitude in the ■pH-ter bad been brought rather forcibly ’'afore the public through flic press.