FREE LEGAL DEFENCE AND UNLIMITED LEGAL DEFENCE ARRANGEMENTS.
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Cinder its Free Legal Defence Scheme, The Commercial Motor Users Association will provide free lewd defence on two summonses, in any one year, taken out against a member or his driver for an offence under the Motor Car Acts, 1896 and 1903, or the Heavy Motor Cur Order, 1904, subject to the conditions set out hereunder. The Association will instruct an experienced solicitor to defend thc summonses, and will pay his fees and out. of-pocket expenses, so that members will be saved the expense and trouble of having to find a local solicitor, or of attending in person, or sending the driver to appear at the court.
N.B.—The provision of such free legal defence in any financial year or less period (ending the 31st December), is limited to summonses which arise from the ownership and use of a maximum of four commercial vehicles or tractors by any one member. (See also Condition 4 below.,
The following are typical cases which coins under the scheme, with the names of the police courts at which they have been successfully contested : 1.—Driving motor Ni,agon without having competent per son on trailer to apply the brake (City of London).
2.—Driving to the danger of the public (Bromley). 3.—Driving motor wagon with inefficient brakes (Man chester).
4.—Driving motorvan without having back numlyrplates illuminated (Sheffield).
5.—Obstruction caused by motor wagon remaining on culvert (Barnstaple). 6.—Driving motor lorry with spaces between plates of tire exceeding one-eighth the width of tire (Slough).
7.—Not having weight painted on trailer (Bolton), 8.—Failing—to stop when requested by police officer
(Wokingham). 9.—Emission of steam from motor wagon (Durham). 10.—Not stopping at signal of horse driver (Stockton). 11.—Driving over bridge bearing prohibition notice (Selby). 12.—Using wrong colour on number-plate (Aylesbury).
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE BOTH TO FREE LEGAL DEFENCE AND UNLIMITED LEGAL DEFENCE.
1.—The date of the summons, for the purposes of de, fence by the Association, shall be regarded as being the date of the hearing of the summons; 2.—The Association will undertake, at its own expense, the defence of cases which, in its opinion or that of its legal advisers, can be usefully defended ; 3.—Members may obtain the services of one of the Association's solicitors at a special fee of .£1 is. per summons, plus travelling expenses (when necessary), when they merely desire to be represented at their own expense, in order to put forward points in mitigation of an offence. Applications for such services must be addresed to the secretary in all cases, and he will furnish the names of the solicitor recommended ;
4.—Any member who owns more than four commercial motors must declare in writing the registration particulars of the four to which the free legal defence on two summonses in any financial year shall aPP1Y; 6.—No defence will be provided by the Association in respect of any occurrence giving rise to a summons which occurrence takes place on, or prior to, the date of declaration in writing (addressed to the secretary) by the member of the vehicle comerned as one which is to be so covered; 6..--No substitution a vehicle call be made for a less
period than three months. and no sell notice of off.-ctivo until the date of acknowledgment by the secretary, and all such notices must be iii writing.
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE ONLY TO 'UNLIMITED LEGAL DEFENCE, 7.--The provision of unlimited legal defence by the Association may, for the time being, and subject to termination by the Committee on its giving to any member three months notice in writing, to expire on the 31st De.retnher in any year, be obtained in consideration of payments in advance according to the accompanying scale, penrCi!ipation in which by any menkfier is, of ran-se, optional.
8.—No member will be allowed unlimited defence facilities unless he has at all times declared, covered and paid for two-thirds of the total number of commercial vehicles or tractors which he owns.
9--incept in respect of commercial motors which were covered for unlimited defence at the 1st April, 1914, this schetwi is applicable, whilst to all such Min InPredal motors as were then covered for unlimited defence it shall apply as from the 1st January„ 1915. A special form (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary on application) is required to be filled up by every member when making application fur free legal representation, and this, together with the summons, must reach the Secretary of the Association„ at 83, Fan Mall, S.W.. at least three days before the date of hearing. Unless this rule of proper notice compiled with it is not always possible to anok,? orranyements, 42vd the AR,,oriation. nose 714.4 it seersso ,,j to relitPe to defendsuch enAes.
in addition to the legal defence, members may consult the rolicitor in charge of the legal department at. any time, either persanally or by correspondence, on any legal matter concerning their commercial motor vehicles or tractors, entirely free of orrorge. F, C. Buns-row, Secretau. 83, Pall Mall, London S.W.