MOTORISTS IN COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1931, Page 6

MOTORISTS IN COURT

! WELLINGTON AUTOMOBILE i tI.UB. | WELLINGTON. March 6. j 'The Wellington Automobile Club has I adopted a scheme ol tree legal defence for members similar to that inaugurated by the Auckland Automobile Assoedition some years ago. for some time I legal advice has been available as a | privilege of membership oi tin* Wel- | Imgtoii Automobile Club. blit the | scheme has been extended to icover- | free defence in eases of prosecution from this week. 'The service enables financial members to advise where prosecutions are threatened, and to defence against action by the police or local bodies for alleged breaches of bylaw-. motor regulations, or for any summary olfeuce relating to motor Vehicles. A member who is concerned in any action may call on the club’s solicitor, and hi' will he advised as to what course should he taken, and whether.a prosecution should he defended. II the soliei'for advises that a prosecution .should not he deteuded. lie will, if desired by till* member, attend at the court when the charge is dealt with. If the pro- i sedition should be defended, counsel | "ill diueinl the uroseeution or behalf | of ; lie member. 1

PAID BY THE CLUB. A .member will nut he liable for any charge- by the club’s solicitor as they will he paid by the club. 'The club has arranged with solicitors in a number of titles and towns of the. North Island to act: as agents. If a member is charged with an offence in or near any city or town in which a solicitor lias been appointed as an agent the member may call on the agent in that city or town and be advised as to the course which should he taken. 'The si-lieme should he of great advantage to motorists, and since the Lest of drivers are frequently caught for minor breaches, it is a service which should bring more members to the chib. There are often extenuating circumstances for motoring errors, and many drivers cannot afford the time to place iheir views before si magis- j irate. The other aspect is that the most efficient traffic authorities are not j infallible. and the motorist, requires I skilled assistance in meeting allegations which may not he justified. !

OPPOSE!) TO LENIENCY. The Automobile Club is strongly op-pu-ed to any leniency of the habitual reckless driver, and states that by its new scheme it in no way allies itself with any move to argue sole right to the mad for one section of the community. Statistics of prosecutions in New Zealand show that the motor association member is generally a reasonable driver, and traffic autliorties acknowledge that, the associations are as interested as themselves in promoting road safety.