Trapping Motorists

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 8

Trapping Motorists

CRUDE AUCKLAND SYSTEM

OF the many systems of catching speeding motorists, and generally controlling traffic, that in New Zealand is recognised as being about the oldest and crudest. One of its chief drawbacks is that it fails to check, at the time of the offence, the motorist who, presumably, is driving at a pace considered dangerous.

A NOTHER unfortunate feature is that the road user, often after suffering unfairness by reason of longdelayed notice of his alleged offence, can barely escape a comparatively heavy financial penalty, for even the most trivial breach. The drunken man who constitutes himself a danger and a nuisance can escape without penalty for a first offence, but the motorist, even if merely convicted or fined five shillings, invariably has a bill of costs which makes his liability more than a pound. Very often he pays this when he has been neither a danger nor a nuisance. Some years ago the City Council considered a scheme which sought to

avoid Court prosecutions, and the infliction of unnecessary penalties in the way of Court service and legal costs. The suggestion was that the council should have a scale of charges, say, five shillings for a first offence of leaving a car unattended for more than the time allowed, and ten shillings for a second; ten shillings for cutting a corner, first offence, and one pound for a repetition; a pound or two for excessive speeds, all doubling up, until, presumably, the offender would get so completely beyond the pale that

he would be sent on to Court to receive adequate punishment. The method of collection was quite simple. A docket left in the car oi given to the driver on the spot, or a note delivered or posted, would have requested the driver to attend the city traffic office and make a contribution of a stated amount to the treasury. Defended or disputed cases would have been sent on to the Magistrate s Court. The lack of any legislative authority, apparently was responsible for the shelving of the proposal. The scheme had much to commend it, and would be acceptable to motorists to-day. The A.A.A. was entirely in favour of it. Different countries have different methods of dealing with traffic regulation, and Auckland is backward, even compared with Wellington. England still uses the trapping method of keeping motorists alive to their responsibilities, but the import ant difference* between the English traps and those of Auckland is that three men are employed. One is on the roadside some distance past the trap. A speeding driver having been caught, this man is signalled, and it is his duty to stop the motorist and inform him of his offence, collecting his name and other particulars at the same time. The driver usually stops. A fine for speeding amounts to less than the same fine, plus another for failng to stop when requested!

The American States have various methods. Most of them rely on an officer, mounted on a motor-cycle, who overtakes the speeder. Usually he takes name and address and gives the driver a docket which requires him to attend the Court at a stated time and place. In some cases, however, the officer is empowered to collect the fine upon the spot. In these cases the officer works on a graduated scale of charges for infringements similar to that formerly proposed for Auckland. Wellington practically relies on one main road for incoming and outgoing traffic, and this is patrolled by a constable whose motor-cycle pace is too fast for any attempt to outdrive him. He also calls a stop, takes the name and address of the driver ... but the rest of the story is told in Court. Motor-cycle patrols are supplied invariably with very carefully tested speedometers, and there is little argument. Speed traps are usually set in the Hutt Valley on Wellington race days, but it is the usual practice for the authorities controlling the traps to invite the automobile association to have a representative present. This invitation is given in confidence, and the association representative checks up all the times taken in the trap.