The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-07
But Nobody S Ever Been
Sent There for Motor
Car Speeding.
COUNCIL READY
TO PASS NEW LAW
Police Justice Will Be Forced
Hereafter to Inprison Speed
ers. Small Fines Having
Failed to Break Up Evil.
Public Demands
Change.

Under new law. which the City
Council will unquestionably pass. Po-
lice Justice Crutchleld will be forced
to do what he can do now-send speed
crs to jail. This fact was clearly en-
phasized by members of Council yes
terday. Within the past few weeks a
negro was fined and sent to Jail for
recklessly driving wagon: in that
period men who were guilty OF speed
ing in high-powered motor cars We're
released upon the payment of $50. The
Police Justice could have fined each
offender 500. lie could have done
more.
The act to license and regulate the
running of automobiles adopted by tha
General Assembly in 1910 provides
section las follows:
"Any person falling to perform any
duty imposed by my section OF this
net, or violating any provision or con-
dition herein set forth, shnlI for each
oGcnse he fined not less than $40, OF
Imprisoned In Jail not less than five
nor more thnn thirty days, OF both, in
the discretion OF the Justice of the
peace before whom the cnse may bs
trted.o
No Renson to Test Law.
Preceding sections iiX speed limits
ever tested this law, for the reason
that nobody in Richmond has even
been sent to jail by Justice Crutchheld
for violating it. The negro who was
sent to jail for speeding Ia wagon
was convicted under some other stat.
ute. as that from which the above sec
ton Is quoted relates exclusively to
motor driven vehicles.
While the Council as whole Is in
favor OF more stringent law to break
up the speeding evil. members agrceh
Yesterday that II would have 10 be 81
framed that a jail sentence would he
compulsory, If no Jail sentences are
ordered under law which now givcs
the court that right and power. More
over. there was desire to know why
a fine OF 800 was never imposed, ever
when the offender plead guilty or wheE
he was convicted of crime more seri-
GUS than the mere operation OF his
car on deserted highway at a speed
higher than perm'tted under the stat
ute The point. therefore, is that the
war will be waged on the Police Court
for il is admitted that motor car peo-
pie Will never Keep within the Law
II they arc to escape with a fine which
means nothing to them.
Public Greatly Aroused.
Never before has the community
been aroused to such indignation as at
present. Condemned for their lax
W
the Police Department answers thas
II can never break up the evil until
the Police Jueticc deals more harsh
ly with offenders. 1t Is a we'll known
fact that there is more or less friction.
Not long ago the Police Commission in
q formal letter, requested Justice
Crutchheld to drop the habit OF mak-
iSG police officers ridiculous while ties,
tifying for the amusement of the loaf
Ing crowds In the courtroom At the
request OF the Health Department, ths
council passed an ordinance to require
that loafers be kept out of the court
room-this law has never been en-
forced The other departments deny
that they are trying to railroad Justice
Crutchfeld out of his job, but they
claim that the city suffers through lack
OF harmony and cooperation in tho
enforcement of the laws
VIII Keep Up Crusade.
Policemen got orders YESTERDAY u
80 after the speeders without mercy,
the opinion being expressed at head
quarters that the next prisoner brought
in would be given IA flat term in JAIL.
Offenders having laughed heretofore az
the sac fine, Just as they laughed when
women and children We're forced to nes
TO places of safety a S big cars shot inv
at top speed Major Werner Instructed
his men to arrest the speeders and
bring them in. however regardless OF
the punishment in the Police Court.
lie has been assured that the Council
Will provide the jail term. after which
he believes the iaw-breakinS .viI win
end
The resolutions adopted by the Police
Board asking that .,ew ordinances ba
adopted was referred last night by thu
common Council to the Committee on
Ordinance. Charter and Reform.