When will police, Directors of Public Prosecution and magistrates throughout Australia undertake training in common sense…particularly in South Australia and the Northern Territory?
In the NT, the DPP is seeking $1.5m in a civil court from a man for growing 18 marijuana plants, which is a massive over-reaction by any common-sense standard (the man has already been convicted in the criminal court, and served time).
In SA, they’ve just tried to pot a bloke for numerous ‘driving’ offences when – restrained by a seatbelt, and sitting on the passenger side – he leaned over to try to steer a car away from danger after it started inadvertently.
Fortunately, Mr Justice White in the SA Supreme Court ruled, using common sense, that the man should be acquitted of what he had been found guilty of by a magistrate: drink driving, driving while disqualified, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and driving an unregistered vehicle.
…but think of the time, effort and stupidity expended by a range of authorities in SA that forced the case to take up valuable time of the State’s Supreme Court.
Perhaps, if SA Attorney-General Atkinson did not consider himself a general fighting a “war” (his word on ABC TV) against some of his own citizens, he could concentrate on making the SA justice system work better…by instituting training in common sense.
Matter of fact, he could think about showing an admirable lead by undertaking the first course. That’s the type of leadership that makes good generals.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26149055-5006787,00.html