TRAFFIC BREACHES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3941, 18 August 1937, Page 7

TRAFFIC BREACHES

MORE LOCAL PROSECUTIONS. S.M. COURT PROCEEDINGS. A further batch of prosecutions for alleged traffic breaches was heard at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M. The prosecutions were conducted by Inspector R. Metcalfe (Te Awamutu) on behalf of the Transport Department. NO DRIVER’S LICENSE. Trevor Flay, Te Rahu, was charged with having no driver’s license when he operated a motor vehicle on June 2nd. The inspector said he signalled Flay to stop, but it was ignored. He went in pursuit, and Flay’s companion waved derisively. The vehicle was overtaken and Flay questioned. He said he had not had time to get his license, though he had. earlier in the day passed the licensing office. His Worship said it was more a case of foolishness than anything else; the youth should have had more sense. A fine of 10s with costs 12s, was imposed. Allan Kenneth Spraggs, of Hairini, was charged with having no driver's license on June 13th. The inspector told of questioning Spraggs, who prevaricated, and two days later sent in his license, but it was dated the previous day. “Another piece of foolishness,” said his Worship, who imposed a fine of 10s and costs 12s. Another motorist charged with having no driver’s license was Frederick George Willison, of Marakopa, on June 13th, near Kihikihi. Willison did not appear, but wrote admitting the offence. The inspector- produced a letter from Willison, giving an explanation of the circumstances. Inspector Metcalfe said there were two informations. His Worship imposed a fine of £1 and costs for failing to have, a tad light on the vehicle, and 10s and costs for having no driver’s license. A Paterangi farmer, Scott Macky, was charged with, near Te Awamutu on June 7th, using a motor vehicle without a license. He admitted the offence, and told the Court he had inadvertently failed to renew his license. He had been to the issuing office on the last day that the old license was usable, and then had not come to town for a week. A fine of £1 and costs 12s was imposed. Alex Scholes, of Te Kawa, was fined 10s and costs 12s for operating a motor trailer without it being properly licensed. OVER-LOADING. Martin J. Hilder, of Otorohanga, entered a plea of not guilty when charged with operating his motor vehicle near Kihikihi on June 3rd, loaded to exceed the road classification. Inspector Metcalfe said the gross weight was 5 tons 5 cwt, and the tare lead 2 tons 6 cwt. The driver was not Hilder. To defendant.—He weighed the vehicle, without the trailer. Hilder said he had to depend on his drivers for reports of happenings on the road. He thought he should have been notified promptly of the alleged offence. Actually the driver was, at the time, under notice of dismissal. The truck and trailer was entitled to carry seven tons gross. The driver had previously been instructed to keen well within the limit. he inspector said the trailer was obviously under-loaded, so he did not weigh it. Hilder’s vehicle was only licensed to carry 6i tons, not 7 tons, as claimed. Hilder- complained that he had no opportunity to question his former driver, because he had not been notified of the alleged offence. Mr Metcalfe said it was not usual to inform proprietors; their drivers could do this. His Worship said he proposed to convict. The inspector then read a lengthy list of former convictions for similaroffences. Hilder said he personally had had only one conviction in five years. All the offences referred to were committed, by his employees. He saw no reason why he should go into the witness box to answer the inspector’s questions. Inspector Metcalfe, to further questions, said on the date named, the trailer was not licensed to operate on the roads. Normally the truck could weigh 41 tons and the trailer 2 tons. Actually the truck was 15 cwt overloaded. To an interjection by Mr Preston, who was sitting at the counsel’s table, Mr Metcalfe asked if Mr Preston was interested in the case. After some cross-talk, his Worship ruled that Mi- Preston could not interrupt as he had no standing in the case. Proceeding with the hearing, his Worship remarked that Hilder had had a great number of convictions, but the present offence did not appear to be a very serious one. A fine of £2 with costs 10s would meet the circumstances. NO LIGHTS. Inspector Cook, of Te Kuiti, charged John Croasdale with riding a bicycle at Kihikihi on July Bth, without lights. A fine of 10s and costs 8s was imposed. William Anderson was similarly penalised for a like offence.