INTOXICATED MOTORIST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3708, 25 October 1927, Page 2

INTOXICATED MOTORIST.

FINED £lO. NAME SUPPRESSED. At the local Police Court this morning, before Messrs P. Robinson and A. Fraser, J’s. P.. a farmer, of Himatangi, was charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor vehicle on the Foxton racecourse yesterday. Accused pleaded guilty and stated that for two days he had been confined to his bed with influenza, but got up yesterday to go to the motor sports. Before doing so he fortified himself with “four good stiff rums.” He was not accustomed to drink and “rum was a stiff drink for a man who drank only once in a blue moon.” He said he realised the seriousness of the affair and, it would be a lesson to him. He would be indebted to the Bench if they would take a lenient view of the case as he had a business prestige to maintain.

The Bench said that the offence with which he was charged was becoming very common. Under the circumstances, however, they would take a lenient view and accused would be convicted and fined £lO in default one month’s imprisonment. Accused asked that his name be suppressed. The Bench said that he had been let off very light as it was. The Act provided for a fine up to £IOO or three months’ imprisonment and the cancellation of the driver’s license, for such an offence. Publicity given to such cases was regarded as the principle part of the punishment. The Bench was not sure whether Justices were empowered to suppress names in such charges, but an instruction was given to the Press that they did not desire the name to be published.