INTOXICATED IN TAXI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 1

INTOXICATED IN TAXI

LICENCE CANCELLED AND FINE OF £lO MAGISTRATE’S CENSURE “No taxi-driver has the right to take drink; he might kill some woman or child. This man must take up some other walk in life.” Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., severely censured Herbert Kane, who was convicted at the Police Court this morning on a charge of being intoxicated in charge of a motorcar. Kane was fined £lO and his licence was cancelled. FZ'ANE, a taxi-driver, aged 28, was charged with being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Hobson Street on December 16. Mr. Snedden entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

Constable Greig said that he had had drawn to Kane early in the evening of December 16 at the corner of Hobson and Victoria Street. The man had come out ui an notei. He staggered across to his taxi and started the engine alter halfshutting the door, ’there was a civilian in the car, and another taxidriver, whose car was parked on the opposite side of the road, w r as also present. Witness had just been in time to stop Kane from driving away. Bub-Inspector McCarthy entered the witness-box to say that he had seen accused when he was brought to the police station. He had admitted that he had had two bottles of beer and that he was in charge of the taxi. The sub-inspector produced a doctor’s certificate stating that Kane was too much under the influence of liquor to drive. Mr. Snedden admitted that Kane was too intoxicated to drive. He had been on the Quay Street stand when a fare had asked to be driven to Union Street to await the arrival of a woman friend While they were waiting the passenger had persuaded Kane to have a drink. The woman had not arrrived and Kane had been asked to drive his fare to Mount Eden. Kane had stopped in Hobson Street, realising that the drink was having an effect on him HAILED ANOTHER DRIVER

He hailed the driver of another taxi and asked him to Call at the garage and ask for someone to come and drive his taxi. A relief driver eventually arrived and parked his car on the opposite side of the road. Kane had started the engine of his own car, which was rather difficult to manage, but had no intention of driving it. The constable had then arrived and asked who was in charge of the car. The new’ driver said that he was, but the constable said that he could not be in charge of two cars at once and arrested Kane.

Counsel’s statement was corrobor- ; ated by Kane from the witness-box. To the sub-inspector, accused admitted that a prohibition order had ; been suggested before he had been j granted his taxi-driver’s licence j The magistrate imposed the fine and cancelled Kane’s driving licence for 12 months. “I shall instruct the clerk ■ of the court to write to the City Council to see that he does not get another,” added the magistrate. Mr. Snedden made a further appeal for Kane. He was a married man, and if he lest his licence his means of livelihood would be gone. “He did make an effort *"*' get someone else to drive the car when he felt the effects of the drink,” said counsel. The Magistrate: If he hadn't, I would have sent him to gaol immediately. Counsel urged that Kane had received such a lesson that there was no fear of his offending again. The magistrate refused to reconsider his decision, and default of the ! fine was fixed at one month’s imprisi onment. Kane was given 14 days to find the money.