Evening star., 1909-05-09
A MoToR1sT ASKS QUESTIONS.
Why Are Traffic Rules Enforced
Only Against AutosP

To the Editor Of The Star:
l have been lifelong resident of Wash
ington and have always sought TO be a
law-abiding and decent citizen, but 1t
seems that my efforts have been unavail-
ing. Unintentionally | have Joined the
criminal classes. l am a marked man.
Policemen who used to have a pleasant
smile for me now glover at me and
watch me like hawk so long as j am In
sight l may as well admit my fault at
once. i own an automobile. 1t is not a
racing car. nor do | enjoy reckless riding.
am perfectly willing to admit that other
people have a right 10 use the streets Of
Washington as we'll as l. nor do | expect
every one to get out of my. way as l
dash along. But that makes no differ
ence. l still have the feeling that my
every act is recorded in the annals of
crime. l am morally sure that any viola
ton of the traffic regulations on my part
will meet with instant and impartial pun
ishment. Right and good The other
night after a pleasant moonlight ride to
Great Falls and back the rear light on my
car was burning. as it should have been.
when we reached the corner Of 10Th and
NJ streets. But shortly after that the
pesky light went out and the sharp eye
of the law was right there on the job.
Again right and good. That's what the
sharp eye of the law Is for, and l am not
complaining. Result: Police Court next
morning and a two-dollar fine. At least
the policeman said that he was willing to
make it 81, though | am not sure just how
it comes about that the policeman making
the arrest has the authority to fiN the
amount of the fine. Still right and good.
The majesty of the law must be upheld.
And so far as automobiles are concerned
it is upheld pretty much every time: ),
But what 1 would like to ask in all
TO- f1Nn
traffic laws of the. District supposed to
apply only to horseless vehicles? Any
one will admit thatsin the event of col
lSion the driver of a coal wagon or a
brick cart stands to lose less and Is in far
less danger of serious injury than is the
driver of q motor car. The driver of the
brick wagon or coal cart certainly knows
this and he drives accordingly. NOW
honestly believe that for every violation
of the traffic regulations of this city on
the part of automobilists there are a doz-
en- committed by well-nigh crfminally
careless drivers of wagons and carts. Yet
are arrests made in anything like this
proportion?
How often does one see a, policeman as
much as raise warning finger TO the
driver of a heavily loaded wagon who is
on the wrong side of the street or VINO
turns a corner TO the left, or VINO starts
up from the curb toward the middle OF the
street without even looking around 10 see
If there is another vehicle alongside or
coming up from the rear? OF course, l
believe in the enforcement of all JUST
laws But why not enforce them on all
alike? On a recent morning on my way
down town [ counted exactly seven vio-
lations of law by drivers of wagons anu
trucks A few days ago | saw lotH
street between and * completely block
ed by five wagons and carts abreast and
all going north. Casually alancing out OF
my window since starting this letter. l
saw a delivery wagon slowly proceeding
along the avenue going west on the
south side of the street and close 10 the
left-hand curb. And so 1t goes all day
long. How often do such careless drivers
receive as much as cross word from
bicycle cop?
But if any evening after dark ] should
try to drive from Farragut Square TO Du-
pont Circle without my rear hght ourn-
ing brightly it's dollars 10 doughnuts I'd
be nailed before l got TO NJ street and be
more or less politely directed 10 appear
before Judge kimball the next morning.
Professional chauffeurs claim that not
withstanding our wide streets this is one