Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-08-08
ASK PROSECUTORS TO
HELP ENFORCE STATE
MOTOR SPEED LAWS
Says Action bv
Counties is
Necessary
END ACCIDENTS
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Trenton, August 8.-Declaring
that unless drastic action be taken
to curb violations of the motor We
hicle speed laws, an zeal to the
legislature for remedy ', Il be nee
essary, State Motor Vehicle Commits
sioner Job H. Lippincott today sent
q letter to the prosecutors of the
twenty-one counties of the state, re-
questing their cooperation in secur-
ing the enforcement of the motor
vehicle speed regulations. This let
ter follows the one sent by Commits
sioner Lippincott last week to the
police chiefs of all the larger munich
palities of the state, and is intend
ed to supplement that communica-
ton.
"The weekly toll of deaths and ac-
cidents,' says Mr.. Lippincott, Must
convince any fair minded official
that drastic action must be taken to
correct this situation"
He tells the prosecutors that the
enforcement of the motor vehicle
law is made a matter of discretion
and is only given proper attention IN
isolated sections.
THE great increase in motor We
hicle travel the commissioner con-
tinues, has made 1t necessary for
the authorities to take a totally diff
ferent attitude in reference to road
traffic, and unless road conditions
can be improved under our existing
laws, it will be necessary for an ap-
peal to be made to the legislature to
give us remedy of some character" ."
Commissioner Lippincott and his
force of inspectors have been en-,
gagged during the past two or three
weeks In a special crusade to curb
the speed maniacs who have made
the New Jersey highways the scene
of their law violations. Speed traps
have been established on several of
the main roads, many speeders have
been arrested and fined or their II
censes revoked and scores of repri-
mands have been administered. Mr.
Ltppineott said today that while con-
ditions have been greatly improved,
his force is totally inadequate to po-
lice the entire state and prevent
deaths and accidents by speeding. 1t
is on this account he has appealed to
the police departments and the coun-
ty prosecutors, as it Is their duty to
partment. The letter to the prose-
cutors is as followst
Dear Sir:-I enclose herewith cir
cular letter which has been sent to
the police chief Of all the municipal
ties of the state Of New Jersey This
letter outlines very fully the action
which motor vehicle department de-
sires them to take, and calls them to
cooperate with the department in
an effort to, once for all, stop viola
tions Of the motor vehicle act.
Unless such a step is taken, it will
be impossible to protect life and
property on our highways. The
weekly toll of deaths and accidents
must convince any fair minded Off
cial that drastic action must be taken
to correct this situation.
AS prosecutor of the pleas of your
county, you have the right of con-
troll and supervision over the en-
forcement of the law. l think you
will agree with me that police de-
partments in number of sections
of your county have not been as
active in the enforcement of the pro-
visions of the motor vehicle law as
they should have been, the result
being that the enforcement of the
motor vehicle law is made a matter
of discretion and is only given
proper attention in isolated sections.
Should yiu be willing to coop
crate with the department and COM
municate with the various chiefs of
police and other local officials in
your county, insisting that an effort
q m ad "a RI nf al
thorities to proceed in accordance
with the circular letter enclosed. l
believe that there will be no diff
Guilty in bringing about strict and
practical enforcement of the motor
vehicle law. The result of such ac-
tion would be the protection of life
and property, both for the autoist
and for the public at large. 1t would
also lead to a better understanding
of the best solution for the traffic
problems which confront the govern
ment of this state. The great in
crease of motor vehicle travel has
made 1t necessary for the authorities
to take a totally different attitude
in reference to road traffic, and un-
less road conditions can be improved
under our existing laws, and unless
this experiment is demonstrated to
be success, 1t will be necessary for
an appeal to be made to the legisla-
ture to give US a remedy of some
character.
If the experiment which the de-
partment is undertaking can be
made general, and If all local au-
thorities will cooperate, 1t will very
shortly be possible, by practical in
vestigation. to find the best solution
of this very important problem.
Trusting to receive your co-opera-
ton and offering you every facility
which the Department of Motor We
hicles possesses in order to assist
you and the local authorities in this
wo,k, / am, Very truly yours,
JOB H. LIPPTNCOTT