INTOXICATED MOTORIST

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 9

INTOXICATED MOTORIST

EXEMPLARY FINES INFLICTED, By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. _ Three men cnarged with being intoxicated while in charge of motor vehicles appeared in the local Court to-day. Thomas John Harris, aged 42, the driver of a inotoi- lorry, said he got wet on Saturday morning and took two rums and cloves to keep him warm. When he found the liquor was affecting him he sat on the seat and went to sleep. He said be would take out a prohibition order if the magistrate did not interfere with his license. Tho magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.) said the case differed from the usual run, and imposed a fine of £5. In the case of Frederick Palette, aged 27, who was additionally charged with driving without a license, the police said accused was drunk enough to be arrested even had he not been in charge of a car. The car was an old one and was in a terrible condition.

Accused said he was repairing the car for a friend and had only driven it a little way. Tho magistrate imposed a fine of £2O and directed that no license be issued to accused for two years. When accused complained that this was a bit hard, the magistrate said it was not a bit hard. Accused had 16 previous convictions, including three for converting cars to his own use.

At Onehunga, Leonard Henry Nicholson, aged 33, was fined £25. Counsel said that when accused and a companion were temporarily absent from the bar of a hotel their friends filled their glasses with whisky fund they drank it. Accused, realising his condition, proceeded to park his car in a side street until he had : "recovered.