INTOXICATED DRIVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 671, 24 May 1929, Page 1

INTOXICATED DRIVER

FINED £SO AND LICENCE CANCELLED POSSIBILITY OF GAOL

“Some magistrates are imposing terms of imprisonment for this offence. Fines certainly seem to be no deterrent,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when Alexander Hawthorn was charged at the Police Court this morning with being intoxicated in charge of a motorvehicle. “TT is reluctantly that I plead guilty,” said Mr. Allan Moody for Hawthorn who was fined £SO and whose driving licence was cancelled for 12 months. In the opinion of Sub-Inspector McCarthy a collision with another car in the Great South Road had resulted in Hawthorn’s apprehension. The man had been driving through Penrose toward Westfield when he had collided with a car coming toward the city. The collision was a slight one, but the second motorist had been entirely unable to avoid Hawthorn. He had turned his car and followed accused in order to stop him as his driving was so erratic. “It was some time before the following car could get in front to stop Hawthorn, who was driving only a few feet from the right-hand side of the road,” continued the sub-inspector. “Hawthorn was then taken to the Newmarket Police Station. He was asked if he wanted a doctor, but said that he did not, maintaining that he was quite fit to drive. Men like this are a serious menace to public safety.” Mr. Moody admitted that his client had disposed of a few drinks, but suggested that the collision had made his judgment worse than ever. The police offer to fetch the man a doctor would seem to suggest that they themselves were not quite certain of his condition. “The trouble Is that these men do not gauge their carrying capacity correctly,” continued counsel. “There is a collision and this sort of thing is what the police are looking for.” Counsel assured the bench that he found no fault with the police tactics. He recognised the difficulty experienced by the magistrate in dealing with such cases, but reminded tho court that Hawthorn had never previously been in trouble. “My client is prepared to take out a prohibition order.” be said. “I would ask that his licence is not cancelled. He is a piano-tuner and travels about the country a lot. There is slight damage to be paid for as a result of the collision.” Counsel suggested that Hawtorn take out a prohibition order and that his licence be endorsed. He mentioned that the man was going to Hauraki Plains shortly. Mr. Hunt: He will go on his bicycle then. , Hawthorn was given a month in which to pay the fine.