DRUNKENNESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20126, 20 April 1928, Page 7

DRUNKENNESS

VIEWPOINT OF THE LAW PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, April 17. The question, “When is a man drunk ” has taken an unusual course in London Police Courts, where latf.’erly medical and legal views have been in such conflict that Magistrates refused to convict in several case.: of motorists charged with drunkenness. The Magisterial view has nothing to do with the doctor, or whether a [man is in charge of a car or lying in the street. The whole question is,

“Was he drunk?” On the contrary, the doctors maintain that the thing the man is doing must, be considered. He might not be drunk as a pedestrian, but he might be drunk as a motorist. ;A doc'/ir in evidence to-day said that as a motorist accused, was drunk,, but as a pedestrian he was sober. The Magistrate: “That is not the law. The whole point is, was he drunk—simply drunk?” He dismissed the charge. It is suggested that the only means of overcoming a deadlock involving over-much liberty for drunken drivers is that a man should be regarded as drunk when he is incapable of safely doing the work on which he i engaged at the time specified in the charge.