The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-13
NEW TRAFFIC RULES URGED
POLICE RECOMMENDATIONS To
PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD.

IMlANAA glAHANn 9Au gOhb1NRNANAA W
the Charter Revision Committee in the
ordinances governing the opening n
closing Of streets and the regulating OF
vehioular traffic. The committees will recon-
mend a statute placing in the hands OF n
city department the various powers at
fecting trafic conditions. which ara Q
lodged in the Bureau OF Highways. the
Bureau Of Encumbrances, the Police and
other departments.
Frederick H. Bugher. Second Deputy
Police Commissioner. who diFsots the work
OF the traffic squad. believes that the full
. power to regulate traffic and deal with the
things that cucumber It should be lodged
with the Police Department. Mr.. BuRher
in supported in this opinion by Inspector
Max Schmittberger, who has charge OF
the squad. and by other police officers. 10
is said that the Charter Revision Committee
also is inclined strongly to the opinion that
the Police Department should have abso-
hte control over these things.
Second Deputy Bugher has already
submitted TO Commissioner Bingham q
list of recommendations which in his opinion
ought to be mad law These recommends
tons were laid before the Public Service
Commission yesterday. when Commissioner
Bugher vas in the witness chair at the
Investigation into Observation-Disclosures
itan affairs. Inspector Schmittberger and
two Of his lieutenants also were witnesses.
The commission called the members of
the Police Department to get their opinions
as to causes Of the delays on the surface
lines. President Shonts OF the Interborough-
Metropolitan Company had said that the
delays were caused for the most part by
circumstances over which the company
had no control. such. for instance. az the
blocking of the tracks by vehicles.
Second Deputy Bugher would have only
general powers conferred by the Legislature
upon the Police Commissioner and allow
him to work out the details to suit each
situation. The letter which Mr.. BuRher
has written to Commissioner Bingham
and which was put in evidence yesterday
recommends in the first place that the
Police Department shall hav all powers
and duties in relation to the management
of vehiCular traffic This would include
the mapping out of routes. a power which
the Police Department. has now only by
construction of the laws, the rate at which
vehicles should move. the size of the We
hicles Their: selves and the nature Of the
loads that should he carried in certain
streets.
NNAs WOhNA a. ~ u
for any driver to enter a street closed by
the Police Commissioner Between the
hours of 8 in the morning and $50 at night
no person, under his plan. should be allowed
to drive any windlass or derrick truck,
heavy wagon. block dray or vehicle carrying
heavy burdens which is unable to move
faster than n walk, along streets designated
by the Commissioner. Mr.: Bugher also
would a power conferred upon the
Rsh wagons from standing on certain streets,
particularly streets on which surface cars
are operated, between certain hours. g.
The Deputy Commissioner would have
the owners OF all vehicles exceeding s
feet o inches in width get special permits
from the Police Department. and then
travel only on routes designated by the
Commissioner furthermore. special per-
init woul have TO be obtained for any
load that was wider than 3 feet g inches.
No pushcart or any other vehicle "pushed
or pulled by human power shall be left
alone on a public street for more than
five minutes at "A time. No vehicle shall 1
be stopped to load or unload freight on
any street through which surface oars are
operated in front OF any business house
or residence whichlhas a side or rear entrance
on another street without a special permit
from the Police Department.
Furthermore no vehicle shall stop within
the intersection Of any streets or within
fifteen feet Of a street crossing. At the
intersection of surface car lines no vehicle
shall he allowed to stop within seventy
five feet. The ordinance in force now |
provides for only ten feet.
The deputy commissioner would compel
the owner OF every dray van, truck or wagon
TO have his full name and address painted
on the side OF the vehicles in letters fully |
one inch long.
No person shall set up or use any stall
or stand for the sale OF any goods on a
public street without first obtaining a
permit from the police department.
Mr.. Bugher would give the police the
power to prevent the drawing of insecure
loads through the streets or loads that
extend beyond the sides OF the vehicles. |
He would compel every vehicle at night
to show q red hight in the rear as we'll as
white. lights in front, For most Of the
violations the deputy commissioner pro-
poses q penalty OF not less than 81 or |
more than $40. ,> |
Mr.. Rngher told the commission that I
In his opinion the police had reached their
limit in improving trafic conditions under
the present circumstances. Further reRu-
lation and a concentration OF power were
necessary.
MIR. Bugher favored many of the sug-
g~estions made by Mr.. Shonts. Including
the compelling of truck drivers 20 pull up
parallel TO the curb and the prompt clear
Ing Of snow from the streets immediately
parallel to those that contain the CROSS
town tracks.
N aFH "N' lof tiAaA1A AhbtIt9Itu III I
the distractions at Eighth street and Lafa-
ystte place. where the American Express
Company has a station. Mr.. Wins said
he tried to get past a vehicle that was
backed up the other day and was informed
with a fair measure Of profanity thai there
vas no use trying. Mr.. Bugher replied hat
the company was not allowed TO obstruct
TRAFFIC. and at that point the ~obstructions |
could he removed II the express company
would only provide itself with a warehonse
on it's own property instead OF transactin0
It's business on the sidewalk.
The Commissioner said the poIics had
made several arrests there. and they had
summoned the superintendent to court.
The police had never been able to vet a
warrant for the superintendent arrest.
Mr.. ,Bugher said be never remembered ~
any penalty having been imposed on anv
one arrested there, because that case came
under the Classification made bv A oitv.
ordinance Of freight in transit. Mr.. Bnxher
described the station. however. as a general
freight yard on the sidewalk, where thev
take trunks and packages from the Wagons
and classify them for distribution,
Then YOU surely do need legislative aid