INTOXICATION CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 100, 13 December 1939, Page 5

INTOXICATION CHARGE

MOTORIST NARROWLY AVERTS

ACCIDENT

FINE AND SUSPENSION

Apprehended in Te Puke on Friday by Constable Roberts, John Reynolds Hammond, alias John Raymond Hammond, alias Jack Irvine Fisher, a travelling drapery salesman, of Auckland, appeared before Messrs J. G. Saunder and W. E. Singleton, Justices of the Peace, at the Te Puke Police Court on Saturday piorn ing, on a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

Evidence was given by Mr H. A. Washer, of Te Puke, who stated that he came across the defendant driving from Tauranga towards Te Puke in an erratic manner, cutting corners, and the majority of the time travelling on ihe wrong side of the road. On coming to Morton's Corner at Papamoa, Mr Washer stated that it was only the excellent driving of the Rotorua Bus Company's driver of the afternoon bus from Rotorua that a major accident was averted. Mr Washer said that he had come to the opinion that the car driver was under the influence of drink and reported to Constable Roberts accordingly on his arrival in Te Puke.

Constable Roberts stated in evidence that he arrested the defendant in Te Puke on a complaint received from Mr Washer, and the accused was examined by Dr L. Randell, who certified him not to be in a fit state to have charge of a car.

When asked by the Bench if he had anything to say, Fisher stated that he had been on the road for seven years, and held a license for nine years. He had had two smail bottles of beer and a glass of beer in Tauranga, and attributed his condition to the fact that he had taken his drink on an empty stomach. Fisher stated that he had admitted his fault to the bus driver, but disagreed with the other statements that he was driving a completely erratic course. Mr Singleton, from the Bench, stated that he took a serious view of such an offence, and the only tiling they could do was to keep such drivers from the roads. He therefore, fined Fisher £10 and suspended his license for three years, allowing him a week to find the money to pay the fine.