MUST OBSERVE THE LAW

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1947, Page 4

MUST OBSERVE THE LAW

3$pTORJ$T FINED FOR BREACH --'The evidqnce Qf Sergeant Graiiiger ' coribludes -the matter, when he says that' defendant was; driving at a epeed fgr .tpo f,a§.^ for safety iri t&at? iocality. Defendant', may be the most . competent driv^r in " the world, -but he m.us.t p.ay attention to the requirements of the ljiw in ]a restricted areg." This. was the 's'umming up of Mr. A. M. Goulding', S.M., af ter - hearing evidence in/a'defended case dn which Max Rozental, compa'ny manager, oi' Wellington, was charged witfo driving ''withput' d.ue .care and MtentiQn- Was convicted and fined £1 10s. Court .costs were 16s. T.raffic ' rnspector M. Kehoe stated that 'he had been standing near the, Levin Post Office in company with Sergeant W. Grai'ng.er, of the Levin Pofic.e, and Mr. W. J. Qui.nan, di§itrjct health 'and sanitary inspec--for. Their attention had . been drawn 'to* defpnda'nt's car by -a remark from Mr. "Guinan" that "it se'emed to' be whopping it alpng.7 As he had walked to the ccen;tre of the pedestrian' crossing to stop the wehicle, it had py.ert.aken and P.a.s?ed another vehicle spme 30 f'eet from the qrogsing, said Mr. Keho.e. The other vehic.le wa? travelli'ng .about 20 m.p.h. When signalied, defendant had stopped within a few chains? He had evinced surprise at having been stopped, and said he could see nothing wr.ong in .the manner in which he had beeh driving, and denied having seen or passed the other car. "I p.ointed opt to him that had •there been a pedestrian on the crossing he would have been unable to have avoided .an accident, and I he had been f ort'unate * that b.oth the crossing and intersection were lclear," continued Inspector Kehoe. "He became ' 'very aggressiv'e and did everything to pr'ovoke me. -His final words were, 'I'll fix you.' His spe.ed after he had continued northwafd was sucli that I was compelled to chase him, but when he saw my car he .slowed down agai'n." For defendant, Mr. J. P. Bertram submitted 'that' there was no evidence of driving without due care and attention.' In regard to the allegatipn of abus'e, his .client had reported to tlie Transport DeparM ment thgt' tjti.e ipspec'fpr had been abusive ' and insulting, . Inspector' Kehoe : I merely asked ^efendgpt a question I ask many drivers frpm weliipgton, namely, if they 'd-riye' li^e tlrat along "Manr ners Street. It so happeried' tliat defendant is a member of the jewi?h* race, and I' .apparently .chpse tfye' wrong street. He tobk jexceptipn to the r.emark. Sergeant ffl. ,Gr,ainger said that Mpm" his observ'at'ions defendant was ' .trayeliing ,tpo fast for' thgt P^fticular part of the road. He iiad particularly noted the 'Brake reaction, and had told 'Mr 'Guinan -|o ■ do sp t'oo.' '"ihe .brakmg/had' bpeq, pprf cct; 'apd the .car haa pulled' up Within one 'and a-liaif-chains. He I concurred -witfi the inspectpr in that the defendant's attitude had ,been "rather annpying .a'nd arr'ogant:" Mr.' Guinan gave evidence pn similar lineb.