MOTORIST FINED £15 AT GORE

Southland Times, Issue 25503, 25 October 1944, Page 4

MOTORIST FINED £15 AT GORE

DRUNK IN CHARGE AT RACECOURSE “This is a pretty serious offence, and according to the law you must be deprived of your licence for 12 months,” said Mr W. D. Shelton, J.P., in the Gore Magistrate’s Court yesterday when Charles Thomas Wybrow, a bushman, of Chaslands, was charged with being intoxicated in charge of a car at the racecourse on October 23 and also with failing to possess a current warrant of fitness for a motor-vehicle. The case was heard before Messrs H. A. Price and W. D. Shelton, Justices of tlxe ‘Peace.

Sergeant J. H. S. Hogg said it was the first charge against the defendant. (During the morning he had visited a hotel and bought a considerable quantity of liquor. He and a party had gone to the races in the afternoon. There were two dozen bottles of beer in the car when he was apprehended, and, according to defendant’s statement, he had purchased five dozen bottles. After the races, said the sergeant, he noticed that the defendant was in a pretty intoxicated state and drove along when traffic was at its thickest. He was very heavy and sleepy and was a danger on the road. Until he saw a crowd around he was quite reasonable and then he became obnoxious. When questioned yesterday morning it was found he had no warrant of fitness. Defendant was a married man with three children. Sergeant Hogg handed to the justices a statement which he 'said had been made by Dr R. G. Stokes on the defendant’s condition shortly after the arrest. The defendant, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and fined £l5. He was also ordered to pay 3/- Court costs and 12/6 doctor’s expenses. He was deprived of the use of his driving licence for 12 months. Fourteen days were allowed in which to pay the fine. On the charge of failing to possess a warrant of fitness he was convicted and discharged.