Fined £5O for Negligent Driving

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 32, 8 February 1937, Page 12

Fined £SO for Negligent Driving

MOTORIST WHO INJURED TWO YOUTHS A fine of £SO and cancellation of his motor driver’s license was the penalty imposed on Alfred Henry Martin, of Umutoi, a sawmiller, when he appeared for sentence before the Hon Mr Justice Ostler in the Supremo Court at Palmerston North on Saturday morning, having been found guilty by a jury earlier in the week of negligently driving a motor-car in Fitzherbert Avenue, Palmerston North, and thereby causing bodily injury to two Massey College students who were on a motor-cyclo. Appearing for prisoner, Mr L. ±i. Sinclair said it was evident from jury’s recommendation to leniency that they had attached some importance to prisoner’s plea that he had been confused by a row of lights on excavation work. Prisoner had been driving motor vehicles for 25 years, and until this occurence (he had instructed counsel) ho had never had an accident.’ Counsel understood that the probation officer’s report was favourable. Prisoner was not addicted to drink and had no offences recorded against him, and for the last four days had had the novel and humiliating experience for him of being in the lock-up. Counsel suggested that the case could be met adequately by the imposition of a fine, and he asked that prisoner’s driving licence should not be touched, owing to his dependence on it in his work. “As you know,” said his Honour in addressing prisoner, “a strong attempt

is being made by the authorities to lessen the terrible toll of death and injury on our roads through negligent driving, and the only way the Courts can assist is, when juries convict, to seo that the punishment is adequate to deter others from being negligent. If the jury had found you negligent and said nothing more, I would have imposed a term of imprisonment as a deterrent to others, but the jury have added a rider which, I think, I ought to take notice of. That being so, 1 won’t impose a term of imprisonment. Firstly, you will be fined £SO, in default three months’ imprisonment, and in the second place, I propose to take away your licence for some time. Your present license will be cancelled, and you won’t, be ablo to drive till the end of May, when you can apply for a new license.” Prisoner was given a month in which to pay the fine. Mr H. R. Cooper (Crown Prosecutor) suggested that accused should be made to pay the cost of the. prosecution. His Honour: Thd £SO fine will more than pay the cost. It goes to the consolidated Fund.