OVER-WEIGHT VEHICLES

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18407, 14 August 1931, Page 6

OVER-WEIGHT VEHICLES

TIMBER MERCHANT FINED. USE OF COUNTY ROADS. NO MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES. At the Hamilton Magistrate's Court this morning. Colin Tuck, timber merchant, was proceeded against by the Waikato County Council for breaches of the county by-law. under which the council had given him notice prohibiting him from using his heavy limber lorries on the county roads during the winter months. It was objected by Mr J. F. Strang for defendant, that the prohibition was invalid on the ground that the regulations which had come into force since the making of the by-law had not been complied with, and the council had since been advised that the prohibition was Invalid. The informations accordingly were withdrawn.

Defendant was also charged with permitting a lorry of over five tons weight on a road classified to carry not more than four and a-half tons. Traffic Inspector McGuire, who prosecuted on behalf of the council, said the roads were being cut up by this heavy timber traffic. Tuck had been previously convicted and fined for a similar offence.

Mr Strang stated that negotiations had been opened between his client and the council under which he might be permitted to pay a contribution to assist the council in the upkeep of the roads used by him.

Inspector McGuire pointed out that Tuck had only commenced these negotiations with the council since the present proceedings were commenced, and no arrangement had yet been made by the council.

Remarking that, there appeared to be no mitigating circumstances in the case, His Worship fined defendant £5 and costs.