Fines And Penalties In Otaki Court

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1949, Page 2

Fines And Penalties In Otaki Court

Messrs W. A. Calwell and F. H. Critchley, J.P.'s, presided over a short sitfcing of. the Police Court at Otaki on Friday, when several traffic charges were heard. Colin Maurice McNaught was charged with having no warrant of fitness and of driving without due care and attention. The first charge was dismissed, while a fine of £3, with 12s" costs; was inflicted on the second charge. - Traffic Inspector - R. B._-Doggett said that he was driving _ in the vicinity of McKay's crossing, at Paekakariki, on January 4 when a car driven by defendant overtook him from behind and then cut in sharpiy because of the near approach of another car from .the opposite direction. Defendant's excuse was that he had to meet his wife and a sick child at Paekakariki. Athol Webley was convicted and fined 20s, with 10s costs, on a charge of driving without due care and attention. Traffic Inspector C. L. Davis told the court that defendant was driving a vehicle along Mill Road on February 22 and, when opposite the school, swerved to the right, then to the left, and again to the right, hitting the kerb and a telegraph pole. Drizzling rain was falling at the time. Webley could not explain what had happened, and stated he had "a blackout." A letter from defendant was tendered in support. Naratan Kasanji, of Wellington, had a conViction and a fine of £3, with 10s costs, entered against him for exceeding the speed limit in _a restricted area. Inspector Davis said defendant was travelling towards Foxton at a high speed. -He had chased' him at 60 m.p.h. and could not catch him, and had increased it to 67 m.p.h. to pass and stop. him. Traffic was heavy at the time. A fine of 20s, with 12s costs, was inflicted on J. R. V-incent for driving a motor cycle at 40 m.p.h. at Otaki Railway. - "My colleague and I have fined the defendants less than usual, because there have been no cases of this nature for some time. Do not accept this as a precedent, however, as fines will be larger next time thfre are appearances for this dangerous praetice. We do not want to discourage the traffic inspectors." This comment was made by Mr. Calwell when fines of 10s were- entered against L. Giddens, H. Gilbert, R. G. Howes, R. Retter, H. R. Rikihana and J. W. Scatchard for riding . unlighted bicycles at night. Costs varied from 10s to 12s. "It was in the truck, but the driver was not aware of where it was situated," stated R. Higgott when he pleaded not guilty to a charge brought by Inspector R. B. Dogget of failure to carry a vehicle authority. Higgott, for whom Mr. C. F. Atmore appeared, stated further that the driver had not been on the truck for any length of time, and he had failed to adviseJ him where the authority was located. The charge was dismissed.