SPEEDING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20511, 1 September 1936, Page 8

SPEEDING

MAGISTRATES TO INFLICT HEAVIER FINES

By Telegraph—Press Association

AUCKLAND, August 31

“The Magistrates of Auckland have made up their minds to support the Minister of Transport in his endeavour to stop speeding,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Otahuhu when the first cases under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, were heard. Six motorists ’“ere charged with travelling at speeds exceeding the 30 miles an hour limit.

Alan Breed, traffic inspector, gave evidence that the defendants had travelled at speeds ranging from 34 io 46 miles an hour through town districts. He said the maximum speed permissible had been increased by five miles an hour, it previously having been 25 miles an hour. “We have been asked by the Minister to enforce the Act in respect of excessive speeding,” he added. “These cases are no longer taken under the by-law but under the Statute, and it would be useless to impose small fines,” said Mr Hunt. “Offenders would take no notice of a fine of £1 and substantial penalties arc to be imposed to support the Government’s efforts to check speeding.” Mr Holmden, who appeared for one defendant, said that one of the largest local bodies in the district was not instituting proceedings in first offences. He suggested that the Court take a similar action regarding the first offenders now before It.

Mr Hunt: No, I will not do that. I warned motorists when last I was here that future prosecutions would ? under the new Act. We have made up our minds to stop this fast travelling.

A fine of £2 and costs was imposed in each case. Mr Hunt said that in future the fines would be much heavier.