Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-12
INCREASE TRAFFIC SQUAD
TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS
Mayor Promises Vigorous Prosecu.
ton for All Violations Of
City Ordinance.
WILL ARREST ALL OFFENDERS
Is Determined That Practice of Reck.
less Disregard for Life and Limb
Must Como to End-Many Com.
plants Recently.

Drastic steps to reduct the number o,
! automobile accidents In Richmond.
which have been steadily increasing
during the past few months, will be
taken by tho Police Department
through tho vigorous enforcement OF
! every provision Of the new traffic or
dinance. Mayor George AinsIle an.
nounccd yesterday afternoon. Viola
lions of traffic regulations have re-
Gently increased many fold until there
has been bred. the Mayor said. an ut
ter contempt" for tbs law. Special
officers will be assigned to arrest ali
offenders.
Plans have been under considera.
ton by Mayor Ainslie and Chief OF
Police Werner for several weeks look.
ing toward better enforcement of
the law in order that accidents may be
reduced. Among the plans considered
is that OF adding four additional men
to the automobile squad to run down
speed hends and other violators OF the
Law. Motorcycles for these men will
be ordered In tho next fcw days, and
they Will be assigned to duty as soon
as the machines arrive.
HOSPITALS COEIPLAIN OF
NOISES FROM AUTOMOBILES
IT have noticed recently that the
traffic regulations are being hagrant-
ly violated said Mayor Ainslie. and
the Chief aud myself have discussed
the matter several times. We came to
the conclusion that the best remedy
would be to assign four additional
men on motorcycles to apprchcnd SUCH
la breakers"
The police declare that practically
every section of the traffic regulations
are being violated many times every
day. AT the Mayors office it was stated
that numerous complaints are filed al
nf
of unnecessary noise made in the hog
pital zones" which have been marked
by large signs erected some time ago.
Little attention Is paid to the rules
against the operation Of cars with the
mufficrs open. and against speeding.
1t was said in police circles. Many
drivers are being summoned to Police
| Court where tho nominal ine 10 i'm
posed. but there seems to be no cessa-
tion in the general disregard for tho
traffic ordinance. Tho accident yes
terday afternoon at the corner of
Grove Avenue and Lomhardy Street was
widely discussed last night in ofIiclal
and police circles. and will. II Is be-
lieved. bring to head the present
plans OF Mayor Ainslie and Major wcr-
ner.
DETERMINED TO ENFORCE
EVERY SECTION OF LAW
iHc dSScllCU tHat OTlNcrS OF
cars did not unconsciousiy violate the
laws. He has been driving car for
several years. he said. and knew that n
machine was never "speeded" or oper-
ated with the munlcrs open that tho
driver was not responsible. II have
noticed recently" no said. that there
has been bred An utter contempt for
all traffic laws. and we are determined
that they shall be enforced in every
instance"
No decision has been reached by the
Mayor and Major Werner rs to what
sections of the city the four new men
to be assigned to tho automobile
squad" will be detailed. The depart
nent now has two men In motor duty.
and II Is probable that the squad will
be further increased during the next
few months.