Intoxicated Car Driver Before Court

Chronicle (Levin), 21 July 1949, Page 6

Intoxicated Car Driver Before Court

Charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a car in Oxford Street on July 20, Richard Abraham, a farmer, of Levin, appeared before Messrs J. S. Moir and D. J Gardiner, J.p.'s in the Police Court today. He was also charged with driving without a licence. Mr. J. P. Bertram, who represented defendant, entered a' plea of guilty. "• Sergeant W. Grainger told the court that at 6.35 p.m. yesterday defendant had been .observed driving a car along Oxford Street and, on attempting to park it, had driven into the rear of a parked car. On getting out of the car it had been obvious to Constable W. R. Gillespie that defendant was intoxicated, and he had taken him to the po'ice station, where he had been medically examined 10 minutes later and certified as unfit to drive. From defendant's medical history, added Sergeant Grainger it appeared that he was the type of peison who should not take liquor. He had held a driving licenee for sorne years, but had failed to renew it. Defendant had been exceptionally busy on his farm and had overooked renewing his driver's licence explained Mr. Bertram. He was a man of sober habits and not accustomed to drinking. His medical history was such that it ^s not so much the quantity of liquor he consumed as the effect which it had had upon him. , The present instance was an Isolated case. The Bench pointed out that in his own interests it would be better if defendant refrained entirely from taking liquor. A fine of £15 was imposeci, defendant was ordered to pay £1 ls medical expenses> and a direction was given that no licence be issued to him for 12 months. On the charge of having no driver's licence he was fined £-1.