HC Deb 07 May 1908 vol 188 cc430-1
MR. CHIOZZA MONEY

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been directed to the fact that John de Solla, who on 30th April was convicted at Marylebone Police Court of driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public, was shown to have driven at 35 to 40 miles an hour in Maida Vale, and to have charged a cab, knocked its driver into the road, and injured its two lady passengers; if he is aware that the total penalties inflicted on Mr. de Solla were a fine of £5 5s. and £2 2s. costs; and whether he can promise legislation to secure that such offences, which are becoming quite common, shall be punished by imprisonment without the option of a fine.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) Battersea

I have seen a newspaper report of this case. Whether any alteration should be made in the law as regards penalties for the offence of driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public is a matter which will receive my consideration, but I do not think I can promise to introduce legislation to the effect suggested in the Question. It does not seem to me that it would be reasonable to inflict the penalty of imprisonment without the option of a fine in all cases of this kind. I may point out that in the particular case referred to in the Question, the magistrate did not think it right even to impose the maximum fine allowed by the Motor Car Act.

* MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a motor car is not by legislation permitted to proceed more than twenty miles an hour, and where persons deliberately break the law would it not be wise to introduce special punishment, especially in view of the fact that many cars are specially built for the purpose of breaking the law.

MR. JOHN BURNS

I may also inform the hon. Member that cars are not allowed to go even two or three miles an hour if in the opinion of the police such speed is dangerous to the public.

MR. CHIOZZA MONEY

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think £7 is a proper price to pay for injuring two of my constituents?

MR. JOHN BURNS

Perhaps my hon. friend will pardon me for not attempting to appraise the value, elective or otherwise, of his constituents.