The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-26
Would Avoid Trouble.


That is the germ OF the idea IT,
for instance. the automobile cases
were taken out of the hands OF the
general practitioners and turned over
To the specialists much trouble
would be avoided. A car OF a GER
tain type which VIGOROUSLY cannot
be stopped from smoking might come
up in this court, The magistrate.
learning name and model. would then
be able 10 proceed with some idea
OF what the case called for. Some
present magistrates believe that the
talk about burning out bearings and
the need OF great fabrication of new
cars either Is fiction or humorous
talk on the part of owners and ehauf
feurs. No accident or condition ap-
peais as even partial excuse for yio-
lation Of the law. They see no ex-
tenuating circumstances.
In the case OF some car equipped
with non-smokinE device made USE
OF the chauffeur. the automobile
magistrate could punish freely and
deservedly.
Then again, suppose some police
man contended that an offender
against the speed law was driving
between forty and ffxty miles an hour
on the road in touring car. as some
policemen have remarked The
motor magistrate would know that
the best record attained on the In
dianapolis Speedway. by powerful
car fully equipped for touring was a
mile in 81 seconds. This car and
others tried for prize OF $1,000 for
a mile a minute performance and the
fastest made was only 6a.s miles an
hour. This In a commentary on some
hf the statements about automobile
speed on ordinary roads, when this
Is the best TO be accomplished under
racing conditions. Touring car speed
actually In excess of thirty-five miles
an hour for any length of time is
rare.
Would Save Time.
Then again such a court would
not be too busy and folks who had
to appear wouldn't lose as much time
az they do now in ordinary magis,
trates' courts, where a mass of other
affairs liz mixed in. A business man
who drives his own car and Is sum-
moned for some offense loses often
two hours and more from his work
because OF waiting. That could be
saved.
1t may be objected that folks
would be incommodsd coming to a
central court. 1t would be no greater
big advantage to both sides would
b. that the same magistrate would
handle all cases and 1t would be
possible to keep better track OF the
frequent offenders. No matter how
a chauffeur manages now to get
away without reference to former
offenses, he couldn't 90 we'll when
there was more compact court ser
vice. All records of motor cases
would be much better kept.
A man convicted once In case
lsniency would have q better chance
under this court system. No police
man could misrepresent his past. Tho
magistrate would recall his own for
mer act In the matter.
Then too there would be no need
Of speeches from tho bench OF
type magistrates are fond OF utter
ing and the public would be spared
announcements that tho magistrate
10 determined to put down this prac-
tice. should send you to tho work
house. finc you @l.s3."
Magistrates Who Own Oars.
There arc aomc magistrates who
own and use automobiles and there
are those Of them who understand
cars, but not many. non-inform-
ed magistrate cannot ind out what an
uninformed policeman knows about
motors. A few motor cycle police
men know about engines. but most
Of them don't
Out Of such court would como
for one thing an Interpretation Of
the speed law satisfactory to all.
Many magistrates, many minds. on
this proposition. II only ono for
each borough, then perfect agree
mont ON what IL legally and proper
iy the speed limit.
GomA automobilists are bound to
object to such q court - part Of .
scheme to draw . line between mo-
torists and others Any such at
tempt they resent, because they say
Il gives = basis for IN unfair system
or imposta However, a. motorists
are singled out ~ spaying license taxes
they may we'll be singisd out here A.
clients OF 4 court which will give
! them something like justice.
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