Evening star., 1913-07-29
POLICE TO ENFORCE
NEW TRAFFIC RULE

Persons standing on the running boards
or steps Of street cars in the District
who shall refuse to obey the instructions
Of the conductors Of such cars to move
up inside the car" will hereafter be SUBJ
ject to arrest and fine, and the conduct
ors whose orders are not obeyed will have
the authority to call on policemen to ar
rest the offending patrons of the lines.
This is the purpose of an amendment to
the police regulations of the District Of
Columbia adopted at a meeting of the
public utilities commission of the District
yesterday afternoon The amendment
reads:
by virtue Of the duty imposed on the
Commissioners of the District Of Columbia
and on the police to enforce all laws and
ordinances in force in the District Of Co
lumbia and for the protection of public
safety, it is ordered:
Amendment to Regulations.
THAT article XII Of the police regula-
tions Of the District of Columbia be. and
the same Is hereby, amended by adding
thereto after section IS, the following
section to be known as section 76a Of
said article. viz:
or person shall refuse or neglect to obey
or shall violate any order, rule or regu-
lation Of the public utilities commission
of the District of Columbia for the opera
ton and equipment Of street railway cars
within the said District, after demand or
request from the agent or employe of
any such street railway, who is attempt
ing to cause obedience to any such order.
rule or regulation. it shall be the duty of
the several menb ers Of the metropolitan
police force to assist such agent or en-
ploye to force obedience to such order,
rule or regulation. That any person who
shall neglect or refuse to obey any such
ORDER rule or regulation on demand of
any member OF said police force shall be
subject to arrest, and on conviction of
such refusal or neglect shall be fined not
less than 81 nor more than $40. Pro-
vided that this clause for arrest and
punishment shall be construed an in
dependent and separate clause Of this
regula ton
Officials OF the street railway companies
have informed the public utilities commis-
sion that they have found 1t impossible.
without some specific provision In the p0-
lice regulations to enforce the commits
sions regulation forbidding passengers to
occupy places on tho running boards Of
the open summer cars. and the regulation,
since it's adoption last summer. has been
practically q dead letter.
Several accidents II Is stated. have oc-
Cured during the present summer, and
others have been narrowly avefted, by
reason of persons persistiHg In riding on
notably those Of the Washington Raiiway v
and Electric Company. Officials of the
companies hacs, therefore, become SO in
sistent In their requests for authority To
call on the police for aid In enforcing the
regulation that the commission has aiiopt~
ed the above amendment, which becomas
operative at once.
Officials Of the street railway eompaaies
late yesterday afternoon placed special
inspectors at several points along the
lines, these inspectors making notes of
the number OF persons occupying piaees
o nthe running boards Of the cars, On the
car steps or on front platforms OF fnator
cars, all Of these acts being forbidden by
rules OF the public utilities commission
Fares to BE Refused.
Conductors on the cars eauipped with
instructed TO refuse fares fFsm any osr,
sons who board cars ana remaih standins
on the running board After having rs,
quested SUCH persons To step up into ths
car, and after refusal 0f such iersons In
obey the Teguest. the conductors will sum
mon tns/ HTA Policeman who euines h
sight aid thH offending passenger Viii ,,a
remayed from the car and PLACED under
arrest,
IL is believed the acceptance OF fare.
from persons riding an the running
boards would cause embarrassment I'm an
forcing tha regulation. AZ II In feared fha
acceptance Of fare would make A. oh-
iisat0ry on the street railway eompanies
to carry such person To his or her dcati-
nation. Conductors. therefore,, have been
instructed to refuse TO accept fares. eth
or ticket. cash or transfer. from n pas-
senser who declines TO move up Off the
running hoard or step OF a street car
Conductors and motormen OH all street
car lines In the District OF Columbia. Of
neiajs of the companies, and all members
Of the police department have been adj
siscd of the adoption OF tho new reguIa-
tion. and have been notified that Il IL
] effective and to Be enforced Immediately.