MOTORIST CHARGED

Hutt News, Volume 11, Issue 11, 9 August 1928, Page 3

MOTORIST CHARGED

£15 FINE IMPOSED

TTnusuai circumstances were pleaded by Mr C. B. Barrett wheya Thomas Clarence Pearce appeared before Mr J. H. Salmon, in the Lower Hutt Magistrate 's Court yesterday to answer a charge of being found in charge of a motor-car while in a state of intoxication. Mr Barrett, who entered a .plea of. guilty, said that on the day of the arrest his client was suffering from inHuenza and had been told by his employer, in Wellington, to go l\ome. He had two drinks in the city "and then drove out to Lower Hutt, where ihe was noticed toy a traffic inspector to be driving in an erratic -manner. The inspector told 'him to drive the car to a garage. This was done and accused told the man at the garage that there was something -wrong with the steering gear. The mechanism was inspected, and it was discovered that an axle had been put in back to front, the tie rods were bent, the steeling box had been disarranged, and the bolts in the shackles were loose. This had the effect of making the car unmanageable. Counsel submitted that his client worked for a motor firm which was willing to keep him on, and also stated that he understood that the Hutt Boxough Council was not going to press for a cancellation of accused's license, this j statement being corroborated by the borough.solicitor (Mr E. P. Bunny). | "These cases are usually dealt with by a heavy penalty, ' ' said Mr Salmon,, "and so far as I am concerned, suspension of license follows automatically. In this case there appear to be exceptional circumstances and I think the public will be sufficiently safeguarded if accused takes out a prohibition order against himself." Accused was fined £15. and ordered to take out a prohibition order. On a charge of failing to produce a driver's license —to which a plea of guilty was also entered—accused was convicted and ordered to pay costs, i