INTOXICATED MOTORISTS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3506, 3 July 1926, Page 3

INTOXICATED MOTORISTS

A MAGISTRATE’S COMMENTS,

Pahiatua, July 1. In tining a farmer £lO and suspending his license for reckless motoring while intoxicated, the Magistrate made some interesting comments. He said that he did not believe in the infliction of heavy penalties in this class of case, which was contrary to the opinion of some other Magistrates. Fines up to £7O had been inflicted, and the law provided for a penalty of £IOO or three months’ imprisonment. It did not necessarily follow that an offender would be fined. ~ That was only part of the penalty; the other part was gaol. It was perfectly right that a somewhat severe penalty should be provided for. There were some men who should never drive a car. The opinion had been expressed by one of the Supreme Court Judges that one whisky made a man unfit to control a car as it dulled the keen edge of his perception and made him that little bit extra reckless sufficient to bring him into trouble. W ith highpowered cars instant adaptability was necessary. The time was coming when it would be foolish for any driver to have any liquor whatever. Counsel pointed out that defendant had two farms fourteen miles apart, with his car as the only means of communication. The Magistrate said that he was aware of the severity of the punishment, but there were hundreds doino- the same every day as defend" ant had done. They had to be shown some example. His viewpoint was that to stop these offenders driving was the best remedy. He was not prepared to alter his decision.