The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-29
RECKLESS
DRIVERS
F AGING
PRISON
Police Judges Unit for DecIar-
ing for Laws Limit for
FiendS Who Kill and
Main

Backed by Mayor Rolph, the board
OF supervisors and all the officials of
the city and county OF San Francisco.
the police judges went to their
benches this morning determined to
stop the manning of pedestrians by
reckless automobile drivers by in
ficting severe penalties on any per-
ing
The police judges agreed not to let
any first offender off with a mere fine
without hearing. and made it plain
mat their course toward auto drivers
In the future will not be marked with
the leniency OF the past.
WILL CHARGE FELoNIEs
The judges let il sbe understood
that any person accused of hitting a
pedestrian and then driving away
without offering aid Will be prose-
cuted TO the fullest extent OF the law
and will find himself immediately in
the superior court with felony
charge and a possible sentence of five
years imprisonment and fine of
$4,000 staring him in the face
Louis Canto. the chauffeur thought
10 have caused the death of j. w.
McDermott, is still being held in deti-
nue. No charge viii be put against
him until it is known definitely
whether he is the driver of the auto
mobile that hit the banker in Market
street.
20 DAYS FOR WAGON DRIVER
Julius Wohljethen. arrested yes
terday for driving a delivery wogan
while intoxicated, was sentenced TO
serve 20 days in the county Jail by
Police Judge Shortall today on a
charge Of violating the traffic ordi-
nance
Emil GieIheim was fined $40 by Po-
lice Judge Crist for speeding on
motorcycle
SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS
Members of the board Of supervisors
are unanimous in their determination
TO stop the wild automobile speeding
that has resulted in several deaths
lately While the majority of them
believe that no further legislation is
necessary, Supervisors A J Gallagher
and Murdoch are prepared to intro
duce amendments to the. traffic or
dinance- Gallagher faTors compelling
the aut0ists TO place illuminated num-
bers on the machines at night, and
also TO have the chief OF police inves-
tigate the character of each driver be-
Vogelsang said this morning that he
favored the most drastic punishment
for the speed Daniacs Here is what
some OF the supervisors say:
Supervisor VOseIsaAE - No punish
ment can be too severe for the man
who runs down a pedestrian and
drives away. I favor the imposition
Of & Jail sentence rather than a fiDe.
The joy rider seldom feels the eff
- So. Ii IL L..
Jail is both an Inconvenience and a
humiliation. Too much leniency
has been shown by the courts. I
think we have enough legislation on
the books
Supervisor Pzyof-Things are coming
TO a pass where no pedestrian feels
safe Only yesterday Mrs Payot
and ! had narrow escape in the
downtown district A driver, with
out looking where he was going.
swung around the corner and came
within an inch of knocking us both
down The police should enforce
the traffic ordinance to letter. ]
believe in, the heaviest fines being
imposed. Is a Jail sentence TO the
wealthy automobilist is not what it
appears to be. AS a rule, his friends
exert an influence which makes his
Incarceration altogether too much
Of a lark He gets on friendly terms
with the jailer. has the best OF food
and accomm odations, and remains IN
Jail only an absurdly short time
Give him stin fine that will hurt
his pocketbook and 1t will benefit
the city.
H. o Harrison. one of the big auto
mobile dealers of San Francisco. this
morning wrote letters to Chief of
Police White and District Attorney
Fickert outlining a reform which he
thinks would be effective in wiping
out the speeding evil
Here are some of the reforms sug-
gested by Harrison:
Force pedestrians to move with
the traffic whistles
speed Up traffic across corners
where there are traffic policemen. In
New York the traffic policemen hurry
the wheels over the crossings at the
rate Of 20 miles an hour.
Insist on the slow passing Of street
intersections where there are no
traffic policemen.
Make a fair speed milit and stick
to It
Don't assess a $40 fine for an of
Tense. Fine the first offender 5000
and you viii cure him"