Evening star., 1920-03-19
STRONGLY, URGES
TRAFFIC COURT
Mr.. BroWnIow Also Points to
to Need of Building Up
Police Force.

Inability to get properly qualified
| men for the District police force has
delayed organization of the traffic
squad and strict enforcement oLyt the
traffic regulations. Commissioner
Brownlow told the subcommittee of
the House District committee today.
The police force is now threatened
with further depletion on account of
the action of the House in striking
from the legislative appropriation bill
the $240 bonus for government en-
ployes.
Commissioner Brownlow stated to
the committee. which is holding hear
ings on the Zihlman bill to establish
traffic court in the District. that
there are now seventy-two vacancies
on the police force. and during the
three and half months since the
police pay increase bill was passed
there had been only twenty-one ap-
|plicantS for positions and only nine
of these have become members of the
force. Since the action of the House
in striking out the $240 bonus resig-
nations have been coming, the Com
missi oner said.
partment,'' said Commissioner Brown
low land then we will have a force
under disciplinary authority to which
should be intrusted the enforcement
OF tra1nc laws.
Statement Based ON Experience,
Commissioner Brownlow gave the
committee the benefit of his knowl-
edge on conditions based on five years
in direct charge of the police depart
ment. The shortcomings with regard
to issuance Of licenses, he said, is due
to insufficient force and it is now
M fo lich
as commissioner of motor vehicles.
He admitted that drivers licenses are
now issued without a sufficient exam
ination, but said few accidents are
traceable to this. buteare due to reck-
less driving by the most competent
drivers. He said that he believes that
there should be a definite revision of
license fee and auto tax, and that they
should be consolidated into one auto
tax. This would guard against a great.
many cars escaping the ad valorem
tax as at present. 1t would also avoid
the enormous expense in the assess
ment and collection Of the ad valorem
tax.
the enforcement of the law in regard
to traffic should be left in the police
department, where the entire force
could cooperate with the traffic
branch.
Urges Traffic Court.
The Commissioner strongly urged
a traffic court. with a separate judge
and distinct authority. He said that,
above all things, he hates a wealthy
or prominent person who uses his in
fuence to avoid payment of fine
after reckless driving. He believes
that a traffic court will make these
people realize better their obligation
Of obeying traffic rules and regula-
Ions. The laws bear more heavily
ubon the poor and uninfiuential than
upon the rich and prominent, he said.
and this should not be-
Mr.. Brownlow said he was very
anxious to see forfeiture of collateral
done away with. because those who
habitually break the traffic law. espe-
cially by speeding. are those who
don't mind forfeiting collateral. He
thinks this breeds disrespect for law.
The existing law requires sentence
for third offense of speeding, he said,
but this is not imposed. Those guilty
of IS per cent Of traffic infractions
said. 1--WE are killing and manning
too many. and the respects and rights
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