INTOXICATED MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 8

INTOXICATED MOTORISTS

TRUCK DRIVER IMPRISONED SECOND OFFENCE IN TWO YEARS FINE IMPOSED ON PUBLIC SERVANT Two intoxicated motorists appeared before the Police Court this morning. A truck driver, who had been convicted of a similar offence two years ago, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and a public servant, whoso offence was described as not being bad, was lined £lO. Albert John Daniel Smith (26) pleaded guilty to being intoxicated while in charge of a. motor truck in Cavell street.

Sergeant O’Shea said that Sergeant Forsyth, who was at his home, was informed at 6.30 last evening that a drunken man was in charge of a truck in Cavell street. The sergeant found that the motor truck had been driven on the wrong side of the street and had collided with an iron bridge across a gutter with such force that it had been turned completely round. Smith, who was in a drunken condition and staggering about, was endeavouring to pick up broken bottles, which had fallen from the truck. Ho was arrested, and Dr Evans certified that he was unlit to drive.

“ Smith became very violent, and force had to be used to lock him up,” said Sergeant O’Shea. “ Two bottles of beer were found in his overcoat pocket. Smith was before the court on a similar charge on December 20, 1934, and was then convicted and lined and 'his license was cancelled for three months.” Smith had no explanation to make. Commenting on the previous conviction having been mad© only two years ago, the magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) sentenced Smith to one month’s imprisonment, cancelled his license, and prohibited him from driving for two years. Charles Whittaker (50), for whom Mr C. J. L. White appeared, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car in Princes street.

Sergeant O’Shea said that shortly after 8 p.m. on September 22, Trafficinspector Dickel was in the patrol car in Princes . street south when ho noticed a motor car with only one headlight. He stopped the car above the Morgue and noticed that the driver smelt strongly of liquor, Whittaker was found to be intoxicated when he stepped out of the car, and was later certified as being unfit_ to drive. Jt was not a bad case of its kind. Whittaker was a public servant and had not been in any previous trouble. Mr White s&id Sergeant O’Shea had stated the facts most fairly. Defendant was a married man living a short distance from Mosgiel ? and, although he had been driving for 12 years, he had not been charged with the slightest technical breach of the regulations. On September 22 he had come to town with a friend to_ do some shopping and had a few drinks. He was returning home when the incident occurred. There was no suggestion of erratic driving. Me pulled up immediately on being challenged by the inspector. Ho considered that he was not sufficiently under the influence of liquor to warrant such a charge, but h© had to bow to the weight of evidence against him, and now admitted that he had taken more drink than he should have consumed. Mr White pointed out that Whittaker’s wages were £4 ,Bs, and suggested that the interests of the public would be given more protection if the tine were reduced and the prohibition of the license extended. “ I will take the accused’s humble circumstances into consideration,” said Mr Bartholomew. “It is said that Siis case is not a bad one, but these charges cannot be lightly regarded at any time. Ho will be lined £lO and ordered to pay expenses (£1 Is), his license will be cancelled, and be will be prohibited from driving for two years. One month will be allowed in which to pay the fine.”