WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20786, 22 July 1937, Page 4

WAIMATE

MOTORISTS FINED INTOXICATION CHARGES Two motorists charged with being intoxicated in charge of cars appeared before Mr H. Morgan S.M. in the Waimate Magistrate’s Court yesterday. David Bell, of Carew, near Ashburton, was fined £2O and was prohibited from obtaining another license before January 1939. Hubert Harrison, of Redciiff, was fined £l2/10/- and was prohibited from obtaining a license for nine months.

Sergeant D. B. Murray prosecuted for the police, and Mr W. F. Roland appeared for the defendants in both cases.

In the first case, that of Bell, Sergeant Murray said that accused was returning to Walmate after the Hunt Club races on Saturday and was travelling so slowly that he held up a line of 50 cars following. He was observed by the traffic inspector and stopped in Victoria Terrace, when he was found to be intoxicated. He was taken to the police station by Constable Waring where he was examined by a doctor and taken In charge. For the defence Mr Boland said that Bell had suffered from a fainting fit at the racecourse and a friend had given him a stiff drink, which did not have the effect Intended. That was the only drink Bell had had that daj’ and previously he had not had a drink for nine months. The faintng fit combined with the drink had made Bell intoxicated, said Mr Boland. He had intended to stay the night in Walmate and had driven slowly trom the racecourse, this bringing him under the notice of the traffic inspector. The Magistrate said the accused had been convicted and fined £lO on a similar charge in 1928. The court had to try to stop motorists from indulging when in charge f a car. This was a second offence and for a third offence he would get gaol. Accused had certainly taken precautions. He would be convicted and fined £2O, and expenses £l/1/-. His license would be suspended, and he would be prohibited from obtaining another one before January 1939.

The second case was that of Hubert Harrison, of Redcliff. Sergeant Murrey said defendant had been arrested in Lower High Street on Tuesday evening when he was proceeding to his car. Constable Waring had taken him to the Police Station, where he was certified by a doctor as being intoxicated. He had no license to drive, and had no certificate of fitness for his ear. Mr Boland said accused had not Deen in town for four months, and had had only two drinks that afternoon. He had a natural slurring of speech which would lead one to think he was worse than he really’ was. He had not been driving the car on the occasion of his arrest. He had gon into a hotel to change a cheque and his wife and children were in the car waiting for him. He had intended to get the certificate of fitness for his car that afternoon, but had arrived in town too 1. '?, Mr Boland put in a plea for a light fine on account of accused’s financial circumstances.

The Magistrate said that apparently he was going to the car with the intention of driving. He would have been a menace if he had driven the car. He would be fined £l2/10/-, with expenses £l/1/-, and prohibited from obtaining a license for nine months. Three months was allowed to pay the fine.