Evening journal., 1920-11-15
CITY ENFORCES
TRAFFICLAWS
Every Precaution Being
Taken to Make Streets
Safe, Judge Thinks
FEW DRIVERS UP
FOR SECOND OFFENSE

Some OF The diflcuEses cnnormterod
IN enforong tpfic laws WIRE an
stlyzed In eraphic manner by Judge
eenu .. Hastings. In an address 10
SNdnl hundred automobile ownerh
ana drivers as IN the Playhouse last
nfeit. The meeting was hcld under
tho auspioes Of the Delaware Salty
Council. l.. 4. DeBlOis presided.
keorge Bachr. OF the l.. and G..
Mooor Company. also spoke.
Judge Hastings declared The city
authorities We're enforcing the traffic
laws with an reasonable strictness.
lie said some persons thought the
statutes should be enforced and fines
imposed 10 the limit To do this.
however, the judge believed 10 would
become unnecessary 20 revive and en-
force The old blue laws" Never
theless, he added, he would no more
favor the repeal OF the traffic laws
than repeal OF the older statutes reuI-
lating morals and Sabbath Observance
IN prparing material FOR this tailS. -
Judge Hastings said, Il came to the
conclusion that the first thing | should
talk about would be Why Inc Dcia-
ware Sd.ty Council exists Back a
number OF years. when ! was a bOy.
't@AA AA"NA a NAANNN EWNIINII. NAa
carts ana horse carts, which would
never hurry unless you used some-
thing more than whip, were all IN at
used uhe etrcctS 10 any extent
IL was the same when / came 10
Wllmingion. Everything was quiet
and there was no rush or hurry. In
the evening you would walk 10 the
postOfiice 70 get the mail or send one
OF the children. Possibly once In a
while a crowd would gaiher at the
church ~ a free luncheon was being
served, but everything was quiet.
There might be one or two big fel-
lows who rushed about, knocking into
people, but that was an.
"Ah Is changed now. We could
not go back II we could. Everybody
owns an automobile. or rides In
someone's automobile. As soon as a
person gets into an auto he immedi-
abely has 10 hurry. No matter where
ne Is going, or how much time he has.
he must hurry. Il Is a habit.
This law enforcement is a great
business. a very great business. The
Municipal Court is a great court II
Is in session an the time. 10 even
works on Sunday.
Speaking Of excessive speed, judge
Hastings said that the law requires
that people drive automobiles very
slowly and that II people stayed with
IN The restrictions OF the law the autos
would be on the street much longer
than they now ane and that this would
materially add 10 congestion
IL Is more dangerous 10 drive slow
ly on a crowded street, he said. thar
y Is TO drive fast on an empty street
twenty-five miles an hour late al
Night with no one on the street anC
no wagons or cars In the vicinity !,
/ not near as dangerous" he added, "a.
/ ten miles an hour on a crowded stree
with women and children crossing
and recrossing."
The judge brought out the fact tina
during the past ten months no per
sons had been brought in for the sec
ond offense. which showed that a lOV
fine has just as much effect as a hig
fine. There are two things not ex
/ cusable. he said: Driving while in
! tOXicated and racing on streets. n
| recalled several accidents, where th
I drivers were not guilty Of a viciOu
| intent, but were guilty or careless
ness. There is no need Of careless
ness. lie closed his address by pledg
| ing the entire support Of the Munic
/ ipal Court in lessening traffic dangers
In introducing Judge Hastings, Mr.
last year 100000 automobiles wer
| operated In the United States, q
which will be added a million NOR
this year. Last year 10000 people. one
third OF whom were children. wer
killed in the country. He told OF tn
small increase in the width OF street
as compared 10 the used automobiles
Mr.. Bacher took as his subject 'Ca
Upkeep and Safety" He emphasized
ways In which proper fabrication o
a car will often prevent serious acci
| denis