MOTOR REGULATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1918, Page 3

MOTOR REGULATIONS.

t IiREAC-fl Of BOROUGH BY-LAWS A case in which a country resident was charged with a breach uf the borough l<y-kiv,-.s affecting motor traflic was heard at the .Magistrate's Court yesterday, before .Mr- -4- Crouke, S.M. Samuel W. l'enman (Auroa) vf'.s charged on the information of the New Plymouth Borough Inspector (Mr. R. Day) with passing a tram car on Devon street, while the ear was standing for the purpose of allowing persons to alight. The inspeelor pointed out that the occurrence took place at llobson Street, and that defendant, passed the car on the near «ide at the rate of 20 miles per hour, in spite of the fact I hat the conductor and inotorinaii both held up their hands as an indication to him to stop. He pointed out that it appeared that motorists seemed to tljink that they had only to sound their horns and everybody must get out- of their way. Some motorists sounded their horns and continued to rush at. pedestrians without slackening speed in any way. Such practices might lead to a motorist having to answer a, more serious charge, and the inspector hoped the Magistrate would give some warning in that respect. Defendant, who did not appear, wrote to the court admitting the offence, but pleading ignorance, and stating that he was travelling at six miles ner hour when lie passed the ear, and that when lie approached it he did not know in what direction the car was travelling. The Magistrate said in the absence of defendant he could not accept his statement without the opportunity of crossexamination.

The inspector said that whether defendant knew the by-law or not, in common decency he should have stopped while passengers were alighting. Defendant was convicted and fined 10a (costs 24/-).