APPLIED TO HEARSES?

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 10

APPLIED TO HEARSES?

BRITISH SPEED LIMIT. Is a motor hearse amenable to the speed limit imposed on goods vehicles? This question was debated at Croydon ißorough Police Court when Ernest Spilstead, of Upper Norwood, employed by a firm of funeral furnishers, appeared on a summons alleging that lie drove a hearse at over 30 miles an hour in Mitcham Road, Croydon, says the Daily Telegraph. P.'C. Styles said that Spiistcad’s speed was from 42 to 45 miles an hour. The hoarse contained a corpse in a coffin and five passengers. Spilstead did not dispute the speed. He claimed, however, that a corpse could not be regarded as goods, although the vehicle was registered as a goods vehicle, and that, therefore, the hearse-was exempt from the speed limit imposed on goods vehicles. Spilslead’s employer produced reports of similar cases, elsewhere, which, he urged, supported this conteniion. Some of the firm’s hearses,

i lie said, were registered as private vehicles and others as goods vehicles, lie contended that under the Act of i 193 i, which operated from October i, ! hearses were not regarded as goods : vehicles, and would no longer be subject io tlie 30 miles speed limit. The police, however, pointed out | that the only exemption related to ambulances and fire engines. Spilstead said that the circumstances were exceptional. It was somewhat late at night, and lie was hurrying, as there were relatives waitjin: at Ids destination to view the body, i It was stated Hint in the old and new Acts the definition of a goods , vehicle was alike, nameiy, that it was ; a vehicle used for the conveyance of i “goods or burden of any description.” ! Alderman A. .1. Field, a Magistrate: : “Burden” seems rallier an awkward tiling lo define. The deputy clerk look (lie view that 1 1 1 is was conveyance of goods within I lie meaning of the Ac!, but reminded ■ lho Bench Unit they could lake any extenuating circumstances into account. The Magistrates dismissed the summons on payment of -is costs.