SPEED LIMITS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23257, 19 July 1945, Page 4

SPEED LIMITS

Ministers Of The Crown Exempt An interesting case was heard at the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. A driver of a car was charged with exceeding the speed limit and offered as an excuse that he was trying to overtake a ministerial car. Traffic Inspector J. M. Henderson said that a Minister of the Crown was exempt from any speed limit. Mi- H. W. Bundle. S.M., was on the Bench. The case was one in which Traffic Inspector Henderson proceeded against Arthur E. Johnston on a charge that on June 9, at Reidston. he drove on the Main South Road at a speed exceeding 40 miles an hour. The defendant in a letter pleaded the following extenuating circumstance: “I would like to state that there was a Government Humber ahead of me which was being driven at an excessive speed, and as I was curious to see who the occupants were, I proceeded to overtake the car. On drawing level I observed that the car was driven bv a chauffeur and sitting next to him was the Minister of the Crown who was responsible for introducing the 40-mile an hour limit on the open road." Continuing, the defendant said the traffic inspector concerned made no attempt to stop the other car, and said that if the clerk of the court would let him know the amount of the fine a cheque would be forwarded promptly. Tire inspector then passed the remark that a Minister of the Crown was exempt from the speed limit. Mr Bundle: Why they should be exempt I don’t know. Mr Bundle then read out part of the regulations affecting the matter, a paragraph providing exemption on the grounds of "urgent public business." The Inspector said that Crown cars usually did not travel fast. Mr Bundle: The Court is placed in a most invidious position in such cases. The Magistrate then asked was the car with the Minister on urgent public business. The inspector said that he could not say. He stated that, in his opinion, the Government car was not travailing at an excessive speed. He estimated the Government car’s speed at 45 miles an hour and they usually allowed five miles an hour tolerance. The defendant's car. on the other hand, was travelling between 63 and 65 miles an hour. "The defendant will be fined £2 10 -. with 10 - Court costs. He must pay for ■his curiosity.’’ said Mr Bundle.