DEMONSTRATION NUMBER

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16813, 3 June 1926, Page 11

DEMONSTRATION NUMBER

PROSECUTIONS JIM HAMILTON. QUESTION OF THEIR USE. The question of when' vehicles bearing demonstration numbers are in illegal use was again the subject of two prosecutions heard in the. Hamilton Magistrate's Court yesterday. Edward N. Valentine, was charged flrsty with illegally using a car beating a demonstration number, and secondly with driving a car without any registration number at all. It was submitted for the defence that he was entitled lo use the car with the demonstration number because he actually had the car on the road for the purpose of sales. Defendant stated that it had been customary for him lo show his cars on the street whenever possible, and he understood he was entitled to do that under the demonstration registration. His Worship remarked that de'endant should not be. charged with illegally using a ear hearing a demonstration number, but rather with leaving it on the strcccls without reasonable excuse. He could drive round all day offering the car for sale if he wished to, but could not allow it to remain stationary in the streets for the purpose. The tlrsl charge was dismissed but defendant was fined 20s and costs on the second. Angus McCall was charged with riding a motor-cycle bearing a demonstration number, for other purposes than offering it for sale. He stated that the machine had only recently been overhauled and he had been testing it pi lor to offering it for sale. He had ridden it home on the Saturday night and was returning to the cycle depot on Sunday when apprehended. It had been the practice of his employers to allow him to ride the machine home at night and return on it the following morning. He had combined using the motor-cycle for his convenience with the carrying out of his ordinary work. His Worship said that practice should be stopped, as the employees had no right lo use, for their own convenience, machines registered for demonstration purposes. He held that the motor-cyce had not, been used in •contravention of the Motor Vehicles \cl but defendant was an offender inasmuch as hi had pursued the work of his calling in a public place on Sunday and that constituted the real offence, lie was lined 20s and costs on Hie amended charge.