LICENSES CANCELLED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 47, 24 January 1938, Page 8

LICENSES CANCELLED

OFFENCES BY MOTORISTS. COURT IMPOSES PENALTIES. Unusual circumstances were revealed in a case heard before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in tlie Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North to-day, when Maurice Paul Nottingham, a fanner and salesman, aged 46, entered a plea of guilty, through his solicitor (Mr G. Tremaine) to a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car on Rangitikei Line on January 17. Senior-Sergeant Mclntyre stated that at 6.20 p.m. on January 17, two Highways Board traffic inspectors were assisting a. motorist to mend a tyre near the Mangaone bridge when accused arrived in his car and inquired if they were all right. He w-as informed that they were, but continued to call out insistently, and this aroused the suspicion of the inspectors as to his sobriety. One went over and, after conversing with him, formed the opinion that he was intoxicated. Accused came in with the inspector to. Palmerston North, where two doctors certified him to be under the influence of alcohol to a degree rendering him unfit to be in charge of a car. Mr Tremaine said accused was extraordinarily unlucky and unfortunate in that he was within a chain or tw-o of his home when he saw- the inspectors and thought there must liave been an accident. He inquired if lie could assist, and an inspector said lie could if he would drive him to the police station. There two doctors found him not to be drunk, but unfit to drive a car. Any unsteadiness in accused’s gait was not clue to liquor, but was the result of a war wound which had destroyed half of one foot. He had been driving for over twenty years, and had never been involved in an accident of any description. He had pleaded guilty ill view of the medical evidence, but definitely said that ho was not drunk, although he had had liquor that day. Accused was a careful driver, who did not speed, and the use of his car was essential to his business. Loss of his license meant the loss of his employment. Commenting that the time was past when the Court, in such cases, could take into consideration a man’s occupation, or whether he needed his car, the Magistrate cancelled accused’s driving license for a period of twelve months, and fined him £ls, with £2 2s medical expenses. A FOXTON CASE.

John Henry McGregor, a labourer, of Foxton, pleaded guilty to a charge of being intoxicated while in clrarge of a car in Main Street, on January 14. Senior-Sergeant Mclntyre stated that accused was driving into Foxton from Wait are re when, in overtaking another car, he collided with the right near mudguard of that vehicle, swerved on to the grass, regained the road and subsequently followed an erratic course from one side of the road to the other. The matter w-as reported to the police and 40 minutes later accused was located in an hotel bar, where he was arrested. Later he was certified as under the influence of alcohol to an extent rendering him unfit to drive a car. Accused then had no driving license and the car belonged to an unemployed labourer. Accused was fined £ls, with 10s costs, and £1 19s 9d medical expenses. He was prohibited from obtaining a license for twelve months.