$750 Fine Imposed; Car To Be Forfeited To Crown (Press, 11 June 1988)

A Kaikoura fisherman, Stephen Nelson Young, who imported a second-hand Nissan car from Japan without the required licence in April 1987, was fined $750 by Judge Frampton at the District Court on 10 June 1988. In addition to the fine, the vehicle was ordered to be forfeited to the Crown. Young, 37, had legitimately brought in a Toyota car under his name but used another person's name for the Nissan. The Crown’s representative, Mr D.J.L. Saunders, stated that Young had been part of a tour in Japan to purchase second-hand vehicles and, under import regulations at that time, only one vehicle could be imported in a 12-month period. The individual whose name was used had not seen or paid for the car but had allowed her name to be used in the importation process. The situation arose from Young's purchase of the Toyota for $13,400 on the last day of the tour, when a representative indicated that a licence for importation had been arranged. Defence lawyer Mr P.J. O'Donnell argued that the culpability partly lay with the tour organisers, who had conducted a seminar explaining legal aspects of importing vehicles. Young, being a first offender, faced a potential maximum fine of $54,000, three times the value of the illegally imported Nissan. The judge considered the substantial financial loss Young would incur with the car’s forfeiture. In another case, the Dorian Society of Christchurch Inc., a social club for homosexuals, was fined $500 after being convicted for the third time for selling alcohol without a licence. Society president Christopher Lee, 34, was fined an additional $200. The offence occurred on 26 May 1988, following a police investigation prompted by complaints from the Christchurch Licensed Cabaret Association. Officers discovered liquor sales happening in the club during a search. The club's representatives argued that they believed their admission fee structure was legal, similar to other unlicensed clubs. After the incident, the club closed down and sought a new application to legally sell liquor. Furthermore, George Patrick Shannon, 50, was fined a total of $250 and ordered to pay $750 in compensation for breaking windows. He had "elbowed" the window of a clock repair shop on 9 June 1988, citing he had “nothing to do.” Shannon had previously been fined for breaking a window at an Armagh Street bank and still had a significant amount of money hidden for safekeeping. Judge Frampton expressed reluctance to impose an immediate custodial sentence but indicated that without prompt payment of the fines and compensation, Shannon would face three months in jail.

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