The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-18
COURT SUMMONS
FOR PATROL DRIVER
Mechanician Wilson Must Show
Cause Why He Should Not
Be Fined for Speeding.
DENIES FAST DRIVING
Though Traffic Ordinance EN-
cmpts Police Vehicles, Citi-
zcns Have Complained.

| 4 summons was issued yesterday for
W. A. Wilson. mechanician of the Po-
lice Department. who drives the auto
mobile patrol of the First District, to
appear in Police Court tomorrow
morning to show cause why he should
not be fined for driving the car faster
than allowed by law. Wilson's al
legged offense is said TO have occurred
last Wednesday afternoon. while he
was responding to a call and was
passing through Main Street between
Tenth and Eleventh. Witnesses. who
will be summoned to testify against
him. are Chief of Police Werner, Pa
trolman Dubuque. who accompa MED
Wilson, and Alexander Forward. by
standcr. Police Commissioner Gordon
may also be summoned.
Wilson said last night that upon
tho occasion referred to he WAS going,
and for IL few seconds only. little more
than fifteen miles an hour. Ito said
he would plead not guilty TO the
charge, for the traffic ordinance OK
empts certain vehicles, including po-
lice patrols, from its regulations.
Police Patrols Exempt.
Section 20, of the traffic law, reads
as follows: Vehicles OF the Police
Department. Fire Department, Fire
Patrol, Traffic Emergency Repair.
United States Mail and ambulances
shall have the right of way at all
! times. in any streets or through a pro-
cession.'
Section IS provides: mo vehicle OK
cept those mentioned In section 90 hereof
shall proceed at any time at a greater
speed than eight miles an hour on the
following streets: Cary. Main. Frank
! lin and Grace Streets from Fourth
Street to Nineteenth Street Broad
Street from Adams to Twelfth Street
Sixth Street from Clay Street south to
Canal Street, Seventh Street from Mar
shall Street south to Arch Street, Arch
Street from Seventh Street to Ninth
Street, thence along the line Of Ninth
street, across the James River Free
| Bridge. thence along Seventh Street
washington Ward) to Hull Street;
Fourteenth street from Main Street
southwardly across Mayo Bridge. and
thence along Hull Street to the corpo
ia ton line on the south: Eighth and
Ninth Streets from Marshall oStrcet to
Cary Street. Seventeenth and Eight
centh Streets from Broad Street to
Cary Street. and in tho territory out
side thereof no vehicle Except those
mentioned in section 20 hcrco) shall
exceed a speed of fifteen miles per
hour, and no vehicle shall cross any
street or avenue running east and west
or make any turn at speed rate eN-
cecding one-half OF the speed permit
ted by this section"
Says lie Was Driving Fn,t.
II was going for prisoner" Wilson
said, in referring to the case, and ]
/ found that by making a swift turn l
! could pass between Il street car and
| automobile and not have to slow down.
At no time, however. was I driving at
what would be called a high rate of
speed. ST is customary for us when
going for prisoners to use reasonable
haste, for we never can tell what the
trouble will be. AS my machine came
from around the nan riding Il
bicycle was directly J.. front Of me,
and IL had been going in high gear
would surely have run over him.
I had the car under perfect control
and could have stopped it in an in
slant"
Wilson said that he expected to be
represented by counsel when the case
is called before Justice Crutchhcld and
indicated his intention of taking an
appeal In case OF "a conviction.
! Lately there have been several com
plants to the Board of Police Commits
! sioncrs by citizens of the speeding of
/ the automobile patrols. Communica-
| tons OF the same nature have also
/ been received and printed by ncwspa
Z nor