The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-12
City Commissioners Have Lost
Patience With MOtorcycIists.
Plans for Motor Police SQUAD
to Gather Evidence.
PROVIDE LARGER NUMBERS
City Also VIII Enforce All Old
Ordinances.
Recent Accidents Have Aroused
the City Hall.

The recent motorcycle accidents in
Topeka resulting in the death Of one
man and the serious and permanent
injuries of others, has aroused the
board of city commissioners. AS a re-
suit it is probable than in a few weeks
Topeka will have the nucleus OF q
motorcycle police squad. Mayor Bill
lard announced this afternoon that he
was considering seriously the purchase
of a machine or machines to be used
by the police department in the gath
ering of evidence against pop-pop
speediacs who endanger the lives Of
pedestrians on the streets of the city.
Next week the board of commission
ers will order the arrangement of an
ordinance providing for a new system
of numbering machines in this city.
All of the old motorcycle numbers viii
be called in by the city clerk. c. B.
Burge, and new larger numbers viii
be provided the machine owners by the
city.
1t is stated by city officials today
that it is impossible to see the num-
bers now used by the motorcyclists.
Even if the police are able TO catch
number they have little or no evil
dence in police court trial to prove
that the rider was exceeding the speed
limits.
MOtorcycIists Are Careless.
1t is stated at the city hall that the
leniency of the police department the last
few months has promoted carelessness
among the motorcycle riders in Topeka.
The police have tried to govern the ac-
uons of the pop-pops by suggestion, strict
street crossing and right-hand-side rules
The city commissioners have not enforced
a rule prohibiting the carrying of passen-
gers or commonly termed tank riding.
They have not insisted that the riders
frain from opening their exhausts inside
the city limits.
accidents he
missioners and the police 1t means that
the motorcyclists will be watched more
closely in the future. 1t means new and
larger numbers. policemen patrolling the
streets by motor day and night and 4
strict enforcement of the ordinances
designating lights, speed and driving.
Topeka allows motorcycles and automo-
bfles these privileges:
Twelve miles an hour on business
streets.
Eighteen miles an hour on residence
streets.
Eight miles an hour around corners and
across intersections.
The police department will have 8
motor car on the streets in a few weeks
With the aid of motorcycle, the speed
iacs will be hailed to police court Com
plants have come to the city hall that Il
streets to wait for street cars. The
riders dodge in and out will
out reducing their speed.
They Disobey ''NIuffIer'' Ordinance.
Another feature that has brought ur-
favorable sentiment down on the heads
of the motorcycle riders in Topeka-the
total disregard of the ordinances requir-
ing them to muffleTs. Not more than
nalt the riders rldlng up aho iR ooWI n hansas s
avenue attempt to munle the noise from
their engine exhaust The noise is ear
splittirg-it is ten times worse than the
grinding, Rroaning deafentng horror of a
fiat wheeled street car. There is no ordi-
nance against the street cars-but there
Is one against the motorcycle habit