TRAFFIC BREACHES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 6, 2 August 1946, Page 5

TRAFFIC BREACHES

HEAVILY OVERLOADED BUS OFFENDERS PROSECUTED A number of prosecutions for breaches of the Traffic Regulations were heard before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The cases were brought both by the Transport Department and the County Traffic Inspector. Rugby Augustine Howell (Mr Otley) was charged with heavily exceeding the maximum load for which his passenger vehicle was licensed. Inspector Sharp stated that on the evening of May 31 he stopped the defendant’s bus and found that he was carrying no less than 61 persons in a vehicle only licensed to carry 25. This constituted an overload of 36. He pointed out that this was contravening his license and also his certificate of fitness.

Defending, Mr Otley said that during the war, period there had been considerable latitude allowed by inspectors on account of the general shortage of transport. This was apparently being discontinued. He added that defendant’s position was aggravated by the number of persons presenting themselves as passengers for the only service operating.

A fine of £2 and costs (19/-) was imposed on each of two charges. The Department also proceeded against Messrs. Ruff Brothers of Nukuhou for operating a goods service vehicle without displaying the current Certificate of Fitness therein and likewise the Authority License.

Mr Suckling for the defendants -stated that for some years it had been the practice of the firm to keep the Authority License in the ■office as so many had been lost by drivers. The failure to carry the ‘Certificate of Fitness was a complete oversight. Fines of 20/- and costs (20/-) were imposed in each instance. The County Traffic Inspector (Mr .A. Carling) proceeded- against H. H. Dodds, a Gisborne farmer who was alleged to have exceeded the speed limit by approaching 56 m.p.h. between Awakeri and Edgecumbe. Fined £3 and costs (33/-). On a similar charge Edward Charles Tassel was cited as having reached 52 m.p.h. on May 22. Defendant who conducted his own defence, declared that the road was clear and he had set his speedometer at 40 m.p.h., only to discover on having it checked later that it was ten miles out. He had been driving 25 years and had never before appeared in court.

Fined 20/- and costs (33/-). On a further charge of having no current W.O.F. he was fined 10/- and •costs (22/6).

For operating a car on May 24 last without the necessary W.O.F. -John McNeil was fined 10/- and •costs (28/-).