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Court Cases That Waste Time.

23rd December 1932
Page 22
Page 22, 23rd December 1932 — Court Cases That Waste Time.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

wE do not know if any accurate computation has been made of the amount of time wasted by the thousands of individuals in every class of motoring who have to attend courts for the hearing of summonses. Many of the cases are in connection with comparatively trivial matters, and the time wasted may be out of all proportion to the importance of the offences.

It may be considered by those who dispense justice that attendance is, in a measure, a part of the punishment, but, if so, it may become a penalty for which, if the summons be dismissed, it is proved that there is no justification.

At present there is a big police campaign against drivers of commercial vehicles, and great inconvenience may consequently be caused not only to the individuals concerned, but also to the companies which employ them, whilst the man who has to depend upon his own resources may be forced to hire another vehicle to fulfil a contract, or take the risk of losing it altogether, It 'would not be difficult to follow the system employed in America, by which a driver, if he be willing to admit that he is in the wrong, can be summarily fined a sum varying according to the nature of the offence. He would, of course, have the option of attending the court if he desired to defend himself.

Some magistrates are sufficiently lenient to permit summonses to be heard in the absence of the defendants, if the latter plead guilty, but there is always the risk that others may regard this as contempt of court and inflict heavier Penalties.

We are assured by traffic experts that the system of permitting fines to be paid on the spot works exceedingly well, and there is another point in its favour, that is, the time saved by the police, who, instead of spending many hours at court, can be engaged in more essential duties, such as the apprehension of more desperate criminals.

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