DANGEROUS DRIVING

Chronicle (Levin), 16 December 1947, Page 4

DANGEROUS DRIVING

cAr driver before court There was little doubt that defendant was trayelling at a speed in excess of that justifiable in a borough, and speeding was always a source of danger, said Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Levin, in entering a .conviction against Logan Herbert Hazelwood. Defendant wa'S charged with driving in a dangerous manner. He was fined £2, court costs amounting to 12s. Defendant, who was represented by Mr. G. Crossley, of Palmerston North, entered a plea of not guilty. He was standing abOut 100 yards south of the Levin Post Office at the rear of a parked car, said In'spector Kehoe. Looking north, he ob'served a car travelling south at a high speed. It overtook two cars when passing over a "T" intersection at Stanley Str.eet, and he had eStimated the speed of the Vehicle to be in the vicinity of 50 m.p.h. Stepping into the road he had signalled the vehicle. The driver had applied the brakes and continued on for about three chains before coming to a halt. The driver had stated that he.had been in a hurry to get to the Otaki

Mr. Crossley: Would it surprise you to hear that the vehicle was incapable of a speed of 50 m.p.h,? Mr. Kehoe: I wouldn't say that. Mr. Crossley: Did you go out in front of the car to stop it? Mr„ Kehoe: I donfi; get in front of any moving vehicle. That's too risky. Mr. Crossley: You say that the car did not stop for three chains, but surely there was nothing to Coihpel him to stop in the shorteSt time. If my client saw your signal there was still no reason for him to stop dead. Confcinuing, Mr. Crossley said that his client had been travelling to Otaki, but was calling on his sister in Levin first. It was 9.50 when he was stopped by the inspector and the races did not commence till 11 a.m. The vehicle was an old model. Defendant, in eVidence said that his speedometer was not working, but malntained that he was travelling at the full 30 m.p.h. at the top end of town and. 15. m.p.h.' near the intersection. Mr. Kehoe: You passed the intersection at 15 m.p.h.? How do you arrive at that? In reply to a question from the •inspector as to what words a motorist who had pulled up behind him had addressed to the in§pectoT, witness repiied: "He said if you want evidence against this man I can give it, as I've been behind him." The magistrate, after passing comment on speeding, imposed the fine as above.

Drove Without Due Care Driving a motor-vehicle without due care and attention was the charge preferred by Inspector Kehoe against Cecil William Mudgway, driver, of Levin. a truck loaded with manuka ^nd driven by defendant had been proceeding down Queen Street, Said Mr. Kehoe. He had sounded his horn in order to pass but without warning, defendant had pulled into the driveway of a house and the inspector had to swing to his wrong side to avoid him. Defendant had been quite frank. The manuka obscured his rear vision mirror. A fine of 30s was imposed by Mr Goulding. Court costs were 10s.