Imperial Valley press., 1913-12-17
DRASTIC STEPS TO CURB
THE MOTOR SPEEDERS

| Los Angeles, Dec. 17.--Stirred by
the many serious auto and street car
accidents, an alarming percentage OF
which have ended in fatalities, during
the past few weeks, the efficiency
commission of Los Angeles has made
known that it will recommend num-
Der of stringent amendments to the
present traffic ordinance governing
all vehicles.
These will come as an adjunct to
the proposed regulation offered by
| Councilman Betkouski demanding
registration for every driver of an
automobile, no matter whether the
operator be professional or amateur,
paid chauffeur or private operator,
man, woman or juvenile.
( For several weeks subcommission,
consisting of Lieutenant Butler of the
traffic squad, P. H. Greer and Joy A.
Winans has been studying the traf-
: fic situation and their report has been
turned over to the efficiency COM
mission for final action before being
sent to the council.
+ The proposed amendments are nine
, in number. One of the principal ones
calls for the establishment of safety
zone four feet in width and long
enough to allow pedestrians an op-
! portunity of boarding cars without
being knocked down or brushed by
autoists. Standards carrying large
targets shall designate the stations.
The adoption Of the portable sema-
phone, one of which has been going
through tryout at Third and Broad
way, is suggested. Signs on lamp
posts indicating the stopping point at
corners will prevent the autoists from
running far out on the crossing for
pedestrians.
( The police department is asked to
establish system registering all
complaints against the violators OF
I the ordinances, notifying such persons
Of the filing and when the record
shows several violations prosecuting
in severe measure.
Special penalty for the offense of
driving machine while intoxicated is
advised, the first offense calling for
I a fine of from $50 to $500 and the
second for minimum of ten days in
jail and a maximum of 180 days, with
no alternative of fine.
An increase of motorcycle officers
is asked for, not so much to arrest
the violators Of the speed ordinances
and their subsequent conviction, but
because of the moral effect they will
have in patroling all of the promi-
nent highways of the city. The total
number should be sixteen men at this
time, according to the report.
Warning signs are suggested for
all school grounds, these to be placed
within 200 feet of the school on the
right hand side of the street and car
ry the warning of the location as well
as speed of no more than twelve
miles an hour. Signs at the city linn
its where the county highways join
are to be placed as soon as possible.
Each sign will give the city speed
limit and will be illuminated at night.
The downtown traffic ordinance is
asked to apply to 32 intersecting
streets which are located in various
parts of the city and are considered
dangerous within the enforcement of
the measure.
81 have not as yet heard the pro-
posed amendments in detail, but am
certainly in favor of the one suggest
ing Imprisonment instead Of fnes,"
said John S. Myers, city auditor, and
a member of the efficiency commits
sion. "There are hundreds of persons
in Los Angeles, particularly young
bloods, whose dads are probably pay
ing without question their expenses,
and who think nothing of a fine of
SO to $50. Such fines come in the
class of those wAich are assessed
against trust magnates, $4,000 or
$4,000 for an offense which has net
ted them from 100000 to $25O,OOO
or more"