New-York tribune., 1920-10-17
Fish Wants Rigid
Bonding System for
Motor Car Drivers
Brooklyn Magistrate Advo-
Gates Law Similar to One
in Connecticut to Reduce
the Number of Accidents

Magistrate Lawrence C. Fish, who
holds the same relation to the automo-
bilsts of Brooklyn that Magistrate
House does to those Of Manhattan,
wants more stringent traffic laws. He
advocates a rigid bonding system such
as is used by Massachusetts and Con-
necticut, and law requiring every op-
orator throughout the state to be IL
censed. Magistrate Fishs views on
the subject are set forth in an article,
"Brooklyn Traffic Court" which is
one of the special features of the cur
rent issue of the Brooklyn Chamber Of
Commerce Bulletin In this he says:
at may be of interest to the resi-
dents of Brooklyn to know that since
the establishment of the Traffic Court
in this borough it has disposed of 21,
873 cases. and up to and including Sep
tcmber 80, 1920, the sum or S209, ,060
has been paid into the court.
"'Thc automobile has come to stay. 1t
is the second or third largest industry
in the United States. The Railway Age
has compiled statistics showing that
the American public is spending APP
proXimately the same amount annually
for running and riding in automobiles
as it is spending for all of its railroad
transportation, freight, passenger, ex
press and mail.
Auto No Longer a Luxury
"While the automobile CATERS to the
pleasure Of its users, still it Is esti-
mated that 90 per cent of the use to
which a motor car is put is absolutely
essential. If it were suggested that
the use of motor cars be forbidden for
twenty-four hours, the entire popula
ton would rise i'll protest. 1t has en-
abled the city man to do business in
the city and reside in the suburbs. 1t
has been big factor in the preven-
ton of sickness and disease, for it has
kept the members of a family healthy
and strong and better able TO resist
disease germs. The motor truck, too,
has enabled the business man to do
business on a larger scale.
"All thoughtful citpens Of a com
munity realize the value and impor-
tancc of permitting careful experienced
drivers of automobiles TO operate their
cars on the public highway. but the
time has come when police officials
must insist that all drivers must obey
the city ordinances of the city of New
York pertaining to traffic, and also the
provisions of the state highway law
pertaining to automob les and their
operations. The judge Of a Traffic
Court or other official before whom
persons are brought for violations of
these provisions must enforce the law
faithfully and consistently, without
fear or favor, the better to enable the
careful users OF automobiles and the
large army Of pedestrians to use the
highway without fear of the careless
or reckless driver. The motor vehicle
operator must be taught to obey traffic
regulations. to safeguard the public
against loss of property or injury to
the person.
New York Far Behind
at is estimated from statistics in
the Secretary of States office that
t53,294 persons in New York are in a
position to drive cars, and | regret
20 state that New York is far behind
the majority of other states, so far as
ITS traffic laws are concerned.
"When we take into consideration
hat in the state in the last five years
i'st of New York City for the same
rcriod was 2,525, it clearly Indicates
mat the Brooklyn Chamber of Com
mcrce, through its proper commit
and the cooperation of other civic or
carnations, should urge the Immediate
passage of more stringent highway
traffic laws. 1t is a problem that chal-
ienges our Immediate consideration.
otwitnstand nding the enormous death
!ist III New York, there were but l4l
licenses suspended in the wear 1919
while in the State of Massachusetts
with a much smaller death list. the
suspensions aggregated 2,049. Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut and other states
have d rigid bonding system, which
constantly keeps before the automo
hilist his responsibility to the pedes-
TRAN. Only license system exists in
New York-so loose and lax that il is