The Persecution of Drivers
Page 57
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AN APPRECIATION OF OUR CAMPAIGN: FURTHER EVIDENCE 'JUSTIFYING IT WE would like to tender you our thanks for your cam"' paign against the present method of police trapping. In this district we constantly see police_ patrols unconcernedly driving past glaring eases ' of bad driving of private cars, cars parked on blind corners and within white lines, and cyclists taking much more than their fair share of the road. The police do not appear to be interested in this sort of thing, but, apparently, consider it greater glory to chase lorry drivers. It amounts to persecution, and is condoned by magistrates, who seem to fine as a matter of course and frequently against the weight of evidence. The writer was in court a few days ago in answer to an alleged speeding offence. The evidence put forward by the patrolman was incorrect throughout and, despite several witnesses for the defence, a fine was imposed. It is time that uncorroborated police evidence was abolished and that all such cases were dealt with by qualified magistrates, instead of a bench of men who, however well-meaning, usually-know nothing of the law and are guided by clerks whose sole function appears to be fine-snatching.
Speedy success to your campaign!
G. PEDERSON.
Lancaster. For Three Double Three, Ltd.
MAGISTRATES OFTEN UNDULY SWAYED BY , LISTS OF PREVIOUS, BUT MINOR, OFFENCES.
I WAS pleased to note that in leading articles in your issues dated January 18 and 25 you draw attention to police activity which amounts to persecution of those obtaining a living with motor vehicles. I myself have been victimized more than once, always with commercial vehicles, in spite of the fact that I have owned all manner of private vehicles since the year 1917. My private motors have included all types from a sports model Norton motorcycle up to a 20 h.p. car, but with these I have never fallen foul of the police.
I am a total abstainer and my indictments in respect of commercial vehicles have been for technical offences of mediocre importance, but a formidable list is read out to the magistrates each time I am summoned. This makes me feel that it is impossible to obtain impartial justice, as the magistrates are unable to realize, during the brief period of giving a decision, the simplicity of my, offences, and are swayed by the length of the list read out in court. The compilation commences with a conviction for having one light out (an oil lamp on an old steel-tyred steam tractor) in 1917 when I was just old enough to have my first driver's licence, whilst my latest experience of " justice " would be enough to make me turn to Bolshevism, were it not for the fact that I am a staunch Conservative and realize that this is still the finest country in the world. Much, however, remains to be done to approach ideal conditions.
Amongst my experiences, the following may be of interest. A man desired a Lancashire boiler to be unseated and transported half a mile by road (no railway was available) and had given the task to a transport contractor who had never touched a job of this nature in his life. This contractor, knowing of my experience of such work, engaged me to supervise the manual part and, on my advice, made arrangements to hire a trac
tion engine with driver. For some reason the traction engine could not be obtained at a convenient time and a Scammell eight-wheeler arrived. It was standard in all respects and not equipped with any form of winch gear. With much labour the boiler was loaded on to the machine—I used hydraulic jacks in the absence of the customary winding drum employed when a traction engine is available. The Scammell was drawn up close to the near side of the road, and until it was loaded up the boiler was on private property. During the loading operation, however, owing to the narrow lane in which the vehicle was standing, free passage was interrupted, and the police arrived to control the traffic—an . occasional bus or a farmer's cart. The only other mechanical vehicle on the job was a standard-type Mercedes-Benz oiler and this was used to convey the heavy tackle (jacks, timber, etc.) necessary for the job. I never drove, or had anything to do with, either of these two vehicles, which were sent to the job complete with drivers, but I was summoned for obstructing the free passage of a road with a Foden steam wagon and haulage gear winch!
My grandfather had established a boiler works and heavy-haulage business in this town about 1860-70, using traction engines ; he was succeeded by my father, who operated traction engines and steam wagons of Foden manufacture until 1930. Thus, boilers, Foden engines and my surname are connected together locally.
• I told the magistrates clearly all the above details and pointed out -that I was engaged as a skilled workman., at so much per day and was not a contractor for the' job. I did not engage a solicitor, but pleaded "Not Guilty" to—obstructing the road with a Foden steam wagon and haulage gear winch—for the simple reason that no such appliances were employed on the job. The police then read out their usual epistle, covering all my breaches of a trivial nature, the magistrates conferred awhile, then convicted me of the above offence.
Burslem. ARTRUR WEDGWOOD.
DIMMING AND DIPPING OF HEADLAMPS DISCOURAGED BY MAGISTRATES.
WHILE asking you to send to me a copy of your bookVT let, '' Legal Pointers for Drivers of Goods Vehicles," would like to thank you for the valuable information which I have received by reading your journal. I have been taking it for nine years, and still have mot of the copies. Your recent articles concerning the treatment of drivers loY the police and magistrates
interested me particUlarly, and el. thought youmight
. . like to learn of my own case.
I was recently driving a 2-ton rigid six-wheeler along the main. Preston-Lancaster Road, when a small van with powerful headlights Came round" the cornet. " I had seen this vehicle coming, so I clipped my 'headlamps, but the other driver did not The result was that I as completely dazzled and crashed into the van, after which I was summoned for driving without due care and attention.
I explained my case in Court, and the Clerk to the Justices simply told' me that I had done wrong in dipping the lights. I was fined 101. and £1 costs, my .licenre. endorsed and suspended for a Month—sufficient 'cauSe .me to lose my, job e is this ' justice? I think
it is understood that lights should be dipped. . . . .
Morecambe. .A REGULAR READER.