"FLOUTED THE LAW"

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 287, 8 August 1957, Page 1

"FLOUTED THE LAW"

"This is your third convxction for driving under the influence of liquor; you have flouted the law." Mr A. TI. Reid, -J.P., said in Taupo Poi Ro Court, to James Francis Hughes, 30, w ho had been working as a driver at the Ministry of Works hydro-electric project at Atiamuri, ancl was sentenced to a month. His licence was cancelled for ihe years. Hugnes liad pleaded guilty to having been in eharge of a ear at Oranui last Saturday while under the influence of liquor as to be incapa-ble of having proper control of tlie vehiclo. II(^ admitted that he was convicted ; and fined £20 for a similar offence at Rotorua in 1949, disqualified for a year, and convicted and sentenced to 10 days and disqualified for a year at Hastings in 1952. With Mr Reid on tlie bench was Mr II. Anderson-Bak. Sergeant Waters said that at 4.30 p.m. last Saturday Traffic Officer J. D.

| Marshall ancl Constable 11. B. McNaugiiton, of Wairakei, were patroliing the Wairakei-Tirau State highway when they saw a sinai! ear travelling fast toward Wairakei. It. was weaving over the road. They followed the ear anci stopj>ea ir. j When Ilugnes got out of the ear he ' was unsteady on his feet, and could not walk a straight line. He was ar rested and taken to the Taupo police station. A doctor who examined Hnghes said he shouid not have been in eharge the ear, but that it was not an extreme case. Mr Reid, after passing the comments already reported, said the offence was a serious one, in view of the number of accidents and deaths caused by drunken drivers. The five year disqualifieation was automatic. llugbes could seeure an- 1 other licence after that period only ; with the consent of a magistrate.