CONSTABLE'S LEAP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 729, 31 July 1929, Page 1

CONSTABLE'S LEAP

PERILS OF TRAFFIC DUTY MOTORIST WHO KEPT ON Even the apparently imperturbable traffic officer has his moments of stress as was well evidenced at the Police Court this morning, when a motorist was charged with failing to obey a traffic signal. Supported by witnesses, the constable, who was on traffic duty, said that defendant’s car was coming straight at him. He had jumped to the comparative safety of the running board of another car and defendant’s car had run over the board on which he had been standing. On behalf of defenant, G. Savory, Mr. Holmden entered a plea of not guilty. According to Constable Findlater, the incident had occurred on June 3, the King’s Birthday, when he had been stationed at the intersection of Khyber Pass, Broadway, Newmarket, and Parnell directing traffic. Three lines of traffic had been coming toward witness down Khyber Pass when he had given the signal to stop. Two of the leading cars had pulled up but defendant, whose car was on the inside, had come straight on and witness had found it necessary to get out of the way hurriedly. Mr. Holmden pointed out that defendant’s speed was only about four miles an hour. Defendant said that he was on his way to the races. He had been concerned with the cars parallel with him, which were crowding. “I did not see the signal against me,” he asserted. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: Did you see the constable. Defendant: Yes. Mr. Hunt: Well, what did you want to run over him for? Defendant explained that he was about to stop when the constable stepped out of his way, so he thought it best to go straight on. A fine of £ 1 and costs was imposed.