TRAFFIC BREACHES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 65, 17 April 1945, Page 5

TRAFFIC BREACHES

APRIL COURT LIST

TR A XSPORT DEPARTMENT ACTIVE

The proceedings at the April sit-

ting of the Whakatane Magistrate's Court were mainly taken up with traffic charges laid by either the Transport Department (Inspector Doggett) or the County Inspector (M-r A. Carling). The. sitting took place on Tuesday last with Mr E. L. Walton S..M. on the Bench. 9 '9 For riding bicycles without, the requisite lights within the Borough of Whakatane Andrew Ivinnaird, Jessie May Muir and Grace Suisted were each fined 5s and costs 10s. For operating a trade motor al Pikowai on February 27 without a currerit warrant of fitness. Frederick Reichart who wrote in a letter of f i explanation was convicted and ordered to pay the costs 30s. Ratangi Dahya (Mr B. S. Barry) pleaded guilty to charges of driving without a W.O.F. and also to driving without due care and attention along Commerce Street. Inspector Doggett said that the jirosecution came as a result of an accident in which defendant's car was involved when he struck a power pole. He. was well on the wrong side and though he smelt of liquor lie was not drunk. Mr Barry said that on the night in question there was heavy rain falling and Commerce Street was badly Hooded owing to a blocked I outlet. It was impossible to see I the. course of the road.

For driving without due care defendant was fined £5 and costs 225 ? whilst for having no fitness warrant he was fined l'Os and costs 10s. The Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company (Mr Otlcy) was charged with operating a heavy motor lorry at Poroporo on February 26 with defective loot brakes, and also without the requisite number plates. Inspector JDoggett said he had tested the brakes and found them defective. There was a load of 3% tons of cement aboard i the lorry which also had no number plates. Mr Otley said that the company had its own garage where its trucks were serviced. Evtry effort was made to keep them in good order, but with the shortage of staff tliey were now experiencing the mechanics relied to a large extent on the drivers to report any weaknesses. On the first charge a fine of £2 and costs 22s was imposed and on the second £1 and costs 10s. Three charges were preferred against. Monty Hume by the. County Inspector in connection with the transport of certain farm machinery to another section of a farm at

Te Teko. Defendant was. charged that on January 17 he operated an unlicensed truck on McDonald's Road; that the. truck had no warrant of fitness; and that at the

time he was not the holder of a driver's license. A plea ol' guilty to ail charges was made. Mr Hamerton said that as the inspector was proceeding along the. road in question lie was overtaken by the truck which was towing a farm mower. As it was travelliingi'ast lie stopped it and learnt that defendant who was not the owner had borrowed the truck to shift the mower which he was operating to another l'arm down the road. Defendant admitted all charges. Fined 20s and costs 50s. (3d on the first charge; 5s and costs 20s 6d on the second and 10s and costs 20s (3d on the third.