The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-06
JA|LFOR RECKLESS
AUTO SPEEDERS
Police Board Recommend That
Careless Drivers Be
Imprisoned.
$50 FINES NOT EFFECTIVE
Mayor Appoints Committee to
Take Up Matter With
City Council.
$50 FINES NOT EFFECTIVE

Imprisonment In jail for reckless md
careless automobile drivers Is the only
thing which will put end to Speed
ing, In the opinion of the Board of Po-
lice Commissioners, and IL went on re-
cord to thnt effect ut meeting lust
night, when 1t recommended that the
City Council enact new laws govern
Ing this menace.
The action of the commissioners was
based upon numerous complaints re-
comfy made of motorists paying no
heed to tho existing laws. endaug erinS
life and limb not only of pedestrians,
but of occupants of horse drawn We
hicles who are forced TO give way be-
fore reckless chauTeurs.
Police Justice Crutchfeld has at
tempted to stop the evil by imposing
fine of $50 in each case of convic-
ton. but apparently this has had no
effect, in view OF the number of au-
toists brought into his court for vio-
Iations of the speed laws.
Where appeals have been taken TO
the Hastings Court Justice Crutchlield
has been sustained.
Greater Punishment.
Under existing ordinances the maxi
mum punishment for exceeding the
speed limit is fine OF 500. but in
view of tho fact that the $50 fine has
failed TO deter some wcll-known Of
tenders, who have heen brought into
1
missioners arrived at the conclusion
that compulsory Jail sentence upon
n second or third conviction, and in
cases of an aggravated nature, Is the
only remedy for motor mania.
Not only did the Board deem 1T ad-
visaolo 10 make the punishment fol
speeding more severe, but il would re-
quirc all persons desiring to drive au-
tomobiles to furnish ample proof OF
their good character and to pass an
examination before competent experts
Of their ability to operate a machine
with safety TO the public. Also tho
Board would compel all applicants for
license to show their mental. moral and
physical fitness to operate n motor-pro-
PEELED vehicle.
The following commissioners were
named by Mayor d. c. Richardson as
committee to take up the matter
with the City Attorney and the proper
| committee of the Council: w. Douglas
Gordon, Z. w. Thomas and j. l. Brad.
icy.
The Resolution.
The resolution which was adopted
by the board was as follows:
Whereas. in the opinion OF the
Board of Police Commissioners Of the
city of Richmond. the present laws of
the State and ordinances of The city
are inadequate to prevent or even TO
| check the constantly growing menace
| to public safety arising from ;he fast
| and criminally reckless operation Of
motorpropelled vehicles in the city
because of the failure of said laws uad
| ordinances to provide:
'Ffrst--An examination by compe-
tent experts of every person desiring
! to operate such vehicle as 10 such
! applicants ability to operate such We
! hic!e with safety to the public. and a
license to operate. conditioned upon
such applicants successfully passing
| such examination. together with GER
! tincate from three or more responsible
citizens indorsing such applicants men
tai, moral and physical fitness TO opcr
ate such vehicle.
'Second-A compulsory Jail sentence
! TO be imposed upon second or third
conviction of violation Of the antispced
laws and ordinances-upon first CON
| victlon If the offense be OF an aggra-
waited nature.
| '"Th!rd-Compuisory suspen sion or re-
vocation of the license to operate such
vehicle upon conviction of Violating
said laws or ordinances, in proportion
10 the gravity or frequency OF such
| violation.
Observation-Disclosures to police Off
GERS TO arrest for such offenscs. in
stead OF the mere right and duty &c
report
"Fif,h-That the State license tar
attached to any such vehicle, the driver
! of which may be violating such law.
or ordinances. shall be pr!ma facie evil
dence that the driver of such vehicle
is the person in whose name the vehicle
so numbered is registered In the Office
or the Secretary OF the Commonwealth
! therefore. be it
Resolved That a committee OF three
TO be named by tho president of the
| board. be appointed for the purpose OF
preparing. with the aid Of the city At
| torney, whose assistance is hereby re
quested, such ordinances and amend
| ments to ordinances as will carry into
| effect the provisions above suggested
! and the said committee is authorize,
| and directed TO present such ordinances
and amendments. when SO prepared. be
! fore the proper committee or commit.
tees of the Council ana to endeavoi
| earnestly to secure their paSEaga"