MOTORISTS’ OFFENCES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 14

MOTORISTS’ OFFENCES

TIME WASTED IN COURT TAGGING SCHEME SUGGESTED A remit from Auckland, discussed at the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce today, drew attention to the social waste involved in the present cumbrous and costly procedure of dealing with minor offences by motorists and other persons whose guilt was admitted. The Minister of Justice was urged to institute a simpler and socially cheaper system of dealing with such offences. Mr. L. A. Eadv (Auckland), in submitting the remit, spoke of the economic waste brought about by the authorities, who were forced to maintain the numerous minor by-laws. The police and the traffic departments both spent considerable time in court, and constables often had to make several visits to interview the people who were involved in any small offence. In Auckland last year approximately 4,000 minor breaches of the by-laws had been c.-emitted, which had involved the appearance of motorists in court. Mr. Eady suggested that the system of tagging should be adopted in the Dominion. By this system, a driver who broke a by-law had his machine tagged, and later he reported to the police or the traffic departments, and was fined according to a fixed schedule. If the motorist said that he was not guilty of the offence, he went to court, but only then. This system saved an immense amount of time. Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association, thought that the system of tagging should be initiated. Mr. G. R. Hogan, city traffic inspector, also had suggested the adoption of the tagging system. The remit was adopted.