Traffic Offenders Before Otaki Court

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1949, Page 2

Traffic Offenders Before Otaki Court

A short sitting of the Police Court, held at Ouaki on Friday, was presMed over by Messrs F. H. Critcihley and H. J. Fell, J.R's., when traffic breadhes were heard. Gharged by the police with driving a motor omnibus without due cai'e and attention, E. L. Butcher was flned £3, with costs 10s. Evidenee revealed that defendant failed tc negotiale a bend south of Manakau with the result that the buj. he was driving capsized. A statement read by Sergeant Hughei said that a bus in front having swerved sharply to avoid wandering stock, defendant had dont likewise. His bus had skidded anc then capsized, landing on its lef side. Defendant, in pleading guilty, told the court that hit driving lights had earlier becomt •defective. "I was on my honeymoon anc would ask the court to talce thk into consideration when inflicting punishment," was the plea madt by Aleck Shun when pleading guilt„ by a letter to a charge of parking on an intersection. Traffic In spector C. L. Davis told the couri that the car, which defendan. had borrowed to go on his honeymoon, was parked across the intersection of Matene and Mair. Streets. A fine of 20s was inflicted. Costs were 12s. Driving a vehicle at an excessive speed resuited in Willian. George Carter being fined £3 witi costs 10s. Insnector Davis tolc the court that "defendant's spee.c was 48 miles per hour from thc Otaki Bridge to the Railway township.

A similar fine, £3 wiih costs 12s was inflicted on Joseph Harolt Watts, who was charged witi. driving at a speed exceeding 5. m.p.h. Defendant told the couii that he had earlier had a punc •ture and was in a hurry to ge. back to Ohakea, or else "he woult get into trouble with the military.' Inspector Davis revealed that defendant passed four cars betweei. Te Horo an'd Otaki at 57 m.p.h. R. C. Lane, for driving a moto: cycle at an excessive, speed, whici Inspector Davis said was 56 m.p.h on the Main Road at Te , Horc: with a pillion rider on the back paid a penalty of £3, with costs 10s. Driving from the Railway ramj through Otaio. RaLway without reducing speed, which Inspectoi Davis stated was 45 m.p.h., cos Stacey Rush, who pleaded guiltj by letter, a fine of £3, with costs 10s. Pataka Webster failed to appeai to answer a charge of driving without due care and attention Sergeant W. S. Hughes stated thai Webster's solicitors had been notified of an earlier adjournment tc the present date, but they had nol arrived. The charge arose out oi a collision between a truck driven by Webster and a taxi driven bi Mr. Chas. Dahl, the former proceeding to Manakau ancl the latter to Wellington. A statement obtained from defendant contained the information that he had been driving at an approximate speed of 35 m.p.h., and at 28 m.p.h. when the accident occurre'd. When passing a car he heard a crash, and pulled up and founcl the car damaged, with one .passenger hurt, not seriously. The steel sides of his tray were hanging down. . The driver of the taxi stated in evidenee that the oncoming truck veered right into him. Measurements taken showed that the collision occurred on his side of the white fine. The truck had made no attempt to turn off, but eareered on inflicting substantial damage to the rear of his car. He suggested the truck was out of conurol. . Evidenee in support given by J. J. Scott, a passenger in the taxi, stated that the truck veered over very quickly on to its incorrect side of the road, and a violent impact occurred. The taxi's speed was not fast and it was on its correct side of the road. A fine of £5 was inflicted with witnesses' expenses of £2 4s.