TRAFFIC BREACHES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3550, 6 May 1939, Page 5

TRAFFIC BREACHES

LORRY DRIVERS IN COURT

SEVERAL HEAVY PENALTIES

Five charges were preferred against Mate Matos by Inspector C. D. Treadgold in the Cambridge Court on Thursday for breaches of the traffic regulations. In each case defendant was convicted by the Magistrate, Mr W. H. Freeman. For affixing a wrong numberplate to his motor lorry, Matos was fined £5, with costs 10/-; and for exceeding the maximum load for which the vehicle was licensed, a similar fine was imposed. The statement of defendant's counsel, Mr J. D. Clemow, was accepted, that Matos had lost one numberplate and transferred another from a second lorry. There was no suggestion that the lorries were not licensed. On three other charges arising from ' the same circumstances, Matos was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/- on each charge/ Overloading Charge Inspector Treadgold also charged Tuck and Watkins, Limited, with operating a heavy motor vehicle in Victoria Street, with a load in excess of the maximum for which it was licensed. The firm was fined £5, with costs 10/-. For assisting the offence of an employee, Harvey Hall, in that the lorry and trailer did not have warrants of fitness, Tuck and Watkins, Limited, were fined £2, with, costs 10/-.

Inspector Treadgold stated that the law required the driver and not the owner of a vehicle to be responsible for warrants of fitness. Charges were therefore brought against Hall, but they were dismissed by the Magistrate. "This man travelled on the wrong side of the road on a bend near St. Peter's School, and continued on through Cambridge at an excessive speed," said Inspector Treadgold, when charging William Owen Hughes with driving in a manner which may have been dangerous. He was fined £3 with costs. 10/-, and for having no warrant of fitness he .was fined 10/- with costs 10/-.

Harry Davis Hall and John Davidson Robb were each fined £1 10/-, with costs 10/-, for operating heavy motor vehicles at a speed in excess of 25 miles an hour.