Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-10-05
1O2 Died By Autos In 1917.
Col. BAUGHMAN THINKS TRAFFIC COURT
Would CHECK ACCIDENTS.

According to Col. E. Austin Baughman.
State Automobile Commissioner, the only |
way effectually to put check on the au-
tomobile accidents, which have taken |
toll OF lO2 lives since the first OF January, |
is the passing of bill at the next session |
OF the Legislature authorizing the estab-
lishment of a Traffic Court which shall
have Statewide jurisdiction.
ut is appalling" he said recently. land |
the friehtfulness of it is not brought home |
to you as it is to me. Day after day sit |
here and get reports Of accidents that are |
due to gross negligence, drink and incom- |
petence. Relatives of persons who have
been killed or seriously injured come to me |
crying and begging me to see that justice |
is done.
Yet, in the majority Of cases, am
poweriess, as is shown by the fact that |
there have been only three men held for |
action Of the Grand Jury as the result of |
the death Of over hundred persons. This
state Of affairs is primarily due to the fact
that the average coroner's jury hesitates
to assume the responsibility for charging
man with manslaughter. 1t would be
perfectly easy for coroner's jury to order
man held for action of the grand jury,
and why this action is not taken oftener
is incomprehensible.
There is a number of cases which
could mention, but will give you few
that are well known. For example, the
recent case where two soldiers were killed
on the Washington Boulevard The chauf-
feur. although it was shown that he was
intoxicated. was exonerated. The case
was then taken to the States Attorney
through our influence. 1t was settled and
half the fines imposed by the magistrate
for speeding and for operating an automo-
bile under the influence of liquor were re-
mitted. ! shall ask the Attorney General
to reopen this case.
THE Bosley case. when woman named
Jeanette Smith was killed on the Har-
ford road. is one in which the chauffeur
was exonerated by coroner's jury, but
our efforts have resulted in the finding of
an indictment by the grand jury.
DO you remember the horrible accident
last spring when taxicab was driven into
the harbor, resulting in the loss of several
lives The boy who drove the machine was
exonerated, yet we knew that he was in
toxicated and had proof that he was not
IL and could not have obtsined a license
without fraud Of some sort.
The man who was responsible for the
recent death Of baker had been refused
license on three occasions on the ground
that he did not know how to drive his car
properly. There is nothing in the present
law which prevents man from obtaining
license as operator or chauffeur IL he will
hold up his hand and swear he can run a
car. Under the new bill incorporated in
the Defense Act, there is an examining
officer for boys and girls between 18 and
IL and when we have an applicant for a
license who seems to be unfamiliar with
his business we send him in for an exami-
nation If the officer is not busy. Then we
hold up the license if the man is shown to
be incompetent, but this is purely volun-
tary action of this Office and is not re-
quired by the law. Everyone should take
a compulsory examination before being
awarded license
Under the present system we get very
little cooperation from the police magis-
trates with regard to fines imposed. There
is no violation Of the law so trivial as to
warrant the imposition of a fine of $l.OO.
yet this is often done. II more severe
fines were imposed, people would begin to
sit up and take notice. Then, the magis-
trate is often ignorant as to whether it is
the first offense. We have a complete
card system at the office which contains
record OF every complaint or arrest but it
is manifestly impossible for us to have a
representative at every hearing.
Under the plan of having all cases
brought before traffic court there would
be only one judge, instead of eight police
court magistrates, as is now the case. The
judge would have ample opportunity to
connected with the operation of the law,
and it would be possible for us to have
our investigator present to testify when
ever necessary. A list of violators could
also be kept on file in the court. so that it
could be ascertained Immediately II a man
was an old offender At present each op-
orator is supposed to have his card marked
by the magistrate after he has been sum-
moned before him. but this is often over
looked. There is also a reluctance among
magistrates to impose jail sentence for
a second offense, although this is permitted
by law.
THE situation in the city could be ma
terially helped if the police department
would begin general roundup of all auto
mobllists This would take several weeks.
Every motorist would be stopped, lights
inspected his card asked for. his license
examined, etc, Many accidents could be
avoided II operators felt they were watched
and campaign such as have outlined
would create that impression.
In the counties the policemen and mag
istrates do nothing to cooperate with us.
As all fines collected so to the State. and
the towns get nothing. the magistrates
and policemen do not lift finger in the
majority of cases, The mayors are indif-
ferent to the situation as well and seem to
think that they owe nothing to the public
in the way Of protection.
81 believe that il the plan of traffic
court is put through at the coming session
Of the Legislature, and il more jail SEN
fences are imposed, there will be a mate
rial improvement in the situation. Other