A NEW OFFENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17142, 11 September 1923, Page 1

A NEW OFFENCE.

STARTING CAR ENGINES. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, September 11. During the last ten years 7000 motor vehicles _have been added to the list of registrations in Wellington and its close vicinity. The total of motor registrations in Wellington number 8200, and applications are steadily increasing. In addition to local registrations, there are a large number of motor vehicles in the city daily which have been registered outside the city, and the aggregate number that use the streets may safely be down at 10.000. New conditions have developed a new variety of offence. Recently, motorists have suffered loss and annoyance through individuals who appear to take a delight in starting the engines of parked cars and letting them go at full speed until the owner or the benzine tank cries a halt. Trouble occurred on two occasions yesterday on this account, the offender in the second instance being caught in the act, curiously enough, by a man who knew of the first case, which was noted before noon- The engine of a car parked in the city, in Warehouse Street, Was set going. The engine was racing violently and bystanders alleged that the man who started it was trying to get t-lie car moving, when there was a noise as though fTie gears had been stripped. This was too much for a spectator, who had heard of the case in the morning. He accused the man of interfering with a car that did not belong to him. A crowd gathered, and both accuser and accused were escorted to the police station to tell their stories.