The Detroit times., 1915-11-20

WILL AID
GILLESPIE
dcss fisosd from PAGE oas.I

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the commissioners decision is the
formation among members OF tbs
Wolverine Automobile club OF what
practically amounts 70 a vigilance
| committee on safety.
The names OF $50 motorists are SC
far included In the membership list
OF this committee. and there will be
several hundred more names added
Each member OK this committee
wilr be sworn In as volunteer spe-
clal traffic officer In the records
Of the police department the special
officers will be known by number
only. Their duties will be two-fold {;
First, 10 obey the traffle laws strict
ly Themselves. and second. TO report
Immediately every law violation
which they see.
These reports VIII be made by
number only and VIII he the basis
frat. OF a police department repri-
mand 10 the violstor. and second. OF
a police department record OF the
violation.
With the average driver who gets
a little careless a notification from
the police department that his care
lessness has been observed and re.
ported Will De a great memory boost
TT for the next time
As 1t ls conceded on ell hands
that half the accidents viii stop II
the occasional carelessness OF The
ordinarily careful driver can be
curbed. a lot OF improvement IS ex-
pected through the work OF the
vigilance committee.
But for the persistent violator.
the reports OF the members OF tte
committee viii serve as q police
record 10 aid the courts In the
treatment OF complaints actually
made by police officers. II is safe
70 say that a formal complaint made
against any road hog by an officer
v III be 10 times as strong II Il is
backed up by reports OF half doz
en- other violations which have not
resulted In prosecutions.
Members OF the vigilance commit
tee win not be asked 10 appear IN
court and assist in prosecutors, be-
cause IL is not desired to advertise
them 10 their friends. Motorists
drive carefully now in the down
town district where they znow they
are constantly watched Uy the po-
lice.
II Is out where they think nobody
is looking except some pedestrians
who don't count that the speed bugs
and read hogs assume that they
own the streets When the vigi-
lance committee is thoroughly or
ganized the road hog viii never
know whether the man he crowds
in the trafic, or speeds past. Is
special officer or just an ordinary
fellow.
II Is the formation OF this vigi-
lance committee that will make 1t
possible for the police department
20 enforce the laws@goveruing auto
mobiles II tswould take the entire
police department OF the city to
note and report all the violations Of
the ordinances in the downtown
district, and Commissioner Gillespie
made it plain to the motorists Fri
day night that he would not be at
tempting a strict observance OF the
ordinances downtown IL he did not
expect the motorists 10 report the
violators and do It promptly.
The banquet at which the vigi-
lance committee or 81 WIN club, as
II is known In police society, was
formed was held in the big dining
room OF the Fellovcraft club Fri
day night and was attended by
about 200 motorists. who were the
most interested lot OF fellows in the
safety movement that could be found
In town. After the formal speeches
we're over, the liners asked ques-
tions or contributed short jabs TO
the safety talks for nearly an hour
w. D. Rockwell. who was respon-
sible for the arrangements for the
banquet. presided. AT the speaker s
table was what might be called a
fairly adequate representation OF
police. Commissioner Gillespie be-
ing accompanied by Supt. Msrquardt.
Secretary Walters, Inspector Rut.
ledge. in charge Of trafic work. and
Lieut.. Staples, the pioneer tratilc
officer OF the town.
President Martin l.. Pulcher, OF
the Wolverine club. in opening the
program declared that although he
had been driving a car for six or
seven years, he never really learn
I'd how until the last couple OF years
and that he found Il was lot more
/ pleasure TO drive a. decent rate
OF speed than otherwise
A. o. Dunk. who has been serving az
a special officer for some time, de-
clared that out OF 1000 motorists he
had demonstrated with because OF
law violations there had been but
seven repeaters.
w. G. Bryant declared that 81 wa
/ not more laws or law enforceus snt
that we're wanted to stop accidents
but education for both motorists and
pedestrians.
We have got 20 educate our.
selves on what constitutes safety
and then get out and practice t."
said he.