Today’s Intoxicated Motorist Fined £25

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 745, 19 August 1929, Page 1

Today’s Intoxicated Motorist Fined £25

NOT SERIOUS CASE LICENCE CANCELLED Following the remark made by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., last week that it would soon be time to consider gaol for intoxicated motorists, yet another man charged with this offence appeared at the Police Court this morning. Counsel and police both being of the oninion that it was not a serious case, however, a fine of £25 was imposed. Accused’s driving licence was also cancelled for 12 months.

Graham Reid, described as a con-crete-mixer, aged 48, was charged with being intoxicated in charge of a car in Queen Street on Saturday, Mr. Allan Moody entering a plea of guilty on his behalf.

According to counsel, Reid had been at the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon organising a charity concert. He had recently been in ill-health, so he had had a brandy with a friend, who had considered that he was looking ill. “I believe it was a particularly hefty brandy,” said counsel. ‘‘Later, when Reid got into his car, which was parked on the side of the road, he released the brakes and ran up on to the footpath. He drove to Wellesley Street and his engine stalled. A constable spoke to him and his engine again stalled. He explained to the constable that there must be something wrong with his engine. Reid is a married man with two children, and las never been in trouble before. He is a very nervous man and became more excited after the constable had spoken to him. There was little traffic at the time.” Counsel was of the opinion that the case was not a bad one. “The sub-in-spector will agree that it is a minor type of case,” he said. “Your Worship knows that there are degrees in these cases. There was no damage done.” Sub-Inspector McCarthy agreed that it was not a very serious case. Reid was not a man of drinking habits. He had had no dinner on Saturday on account of his organising work, and the brandy and stout he had taken affected him so that there was no doubt that he was intoxicated. Reid was given seven days in which to find the money.