RECKLESS MOTORISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1926, Page 2

RECKLESS MOTORISTS

ACTION IX X.S.AV. SYDNEY, May 27. AVitli the, passage next session of a Bill to amend the traffic laws the idea among some reckless motorists that the roads were made only for them, will be dissipated. Magistiute, in short, will be empowered to imprison these individuals, if tbev are found guilty ol serious negligence or of driving while under the influence of liquor. The community will welcome very warmly legislation along such lines for i ecklexs motorists have become a positive menace. Only imprisonment and the forfeiture of their licenses, r.ot merely for a month or two, hut for all time, will bring some of these individuals to their sepses. One of the judges only a day or two ago, at the Quarter Sessions, gave a motorist three months’ imprisonment and suspen led his licenses for having injured a child through the wanton driving of his car, and for having driven it “while under the influence.”

t nder the new legislation magistrates in the lowei courts will be given the same power as the judges for in 99 cases out of 100 crises of drunkenness and of reckless driving - never go beyond the police courts. The attitude of not a few of these offenders who are now brought within the dragnet of the flying police patrol, is illustrated occasionally by photographs in the Press of batches of them awaiting the hearing of their eases outside the Court. Judging from their smiles and the air of merriment which seems to pervade them, they regard the whole thing as a joke, and themselves as something of heroes. Things will, however, be a little different when a few of them find themselves behind the grim walls of the Pentitentiary.