Evening star., 1920-02-04
COMMITTEE HEARS
ARGUMENTS MADE:
FOR TRAFFIC
Maj. Pullman Among Those
Who Advocate Reforms in
Regulations.


need of a special traffic court to ham
die violations of the traffic regula-
tions in Washington by witnesses ap-
, pearing today before the senate Dis
tFlct subcommittee charged with
framing a law to prevent reckless
driving of automobiles in Washington.
Maj r. w. Pullman. superintendent
Of the metropolitan police: Capt. A
j. Headley, Lieut.. W. ;. Shelby of the
traffic squad and \. G Eachelder.
executive chairman of the American
Automobile Association. all strongly
| urged legislation providing for traf-
fic court
Maj. Pullman was heard first. His
recommendations included. in addi-
ton to the traffic court, provision for
jail sentences: for no forfeiture of
collateral in reckless driving cases.
50 that offenders would have to ap-
pear in court; for an annual permit
for operators Of automobiles; for n
strict examination OF applicants for
permits as drivers. and for compul-
sorry reporting OF all collisions.
Statistics for 1913.
Maj. Pullman put into the record d
statement from his annual report
showing that traffic accidents in
Washington had shown decrease in
1919 over those in previous years: in
1918 the number, -,of deaths from J-af-
fc accidents was eighty-siX and in
1919 seventy-siX, an II per cent de-
crease.
Senator Bail of Delaware, p MEM
ber of the committee asked II n rec
ord was kept of all lenders against
the traffic regulations. Maj. Pullman
replied there was such.a record, n gem
eral record. He suggested. however.
that 1t would be a good plan if the
judge or other officials of the court
where traffic cases are heard should
IA hn 4
record upon them any convictions.
In this connection. he said, il would
be advisable to have annual operators
license cards issued. at a nominal
charge perhaps Of so cents. If a record
Of offenses is kept on the back of the
cards then policeman arresting a
driver for violating traffic regulations
will know if ne is an old offender
Senator BAH expressed surprise
that in Washington there is no exist
ing law requiring the issue of drivers
licenses annually.
Maj. Pullman said that with a traf-
fic court established and rules gainst
the forfeiture of collateral, 90 per
cent of the cases OF violation of the
traffic regulations would be heard in
court. instead of 80 per cent of the
offenders never appearing, as at pres
ent.
Lack Adequate Force.
Lieut.. William S Shelby of the
traffic squad told the committee that
there We're not enough policemen here
to properly enforce the traffic laws.
and that they were not properly
equipped. Bicycles. he said. are obso-
lete as equipment for traffic police
men except in congested districts.
He argued that traffic court was
absolutely necessary, and that it
should remain open daily from a m
TO 4.03 pm.
Lieut.. Shelby also advised the reg
istration of all operators of cars from
other cities when they enter the Dis
trict of Columbia. At present they do
not register. He complained of the
weakness under existing law of hand
ling violations of the regulations re-
lating to parking of automobiles. IN
less ap ofhcer actually sees the owner
leave the car. where it violates the
regulations, it is very difficult to con-
vict, he said. and many violators.
therefore, escape. He said that when
ever ownership of a car is transferred
it should be recorded, with the license
number
automobiles who live in Maryland and
are employed in the District of Co
lumbia should be registered here. He
spoke in favor of a traffic court, too,
and of rigid examination for drivers
before licenses are issued to them.
Capt Headley said that no child un-
der sixteen years of age should be
allowed to drive q. car, even when the
parents are with him.
Lack of Enforcement
Mr. Bachelor. speaking for the au-
tomobile association. said that the
great trouble today is not so much
there are not laws. but that the laws
regulating traffic are not properly en-
forced. He said that this was because
the proper machinery had not been
provided in many places. The asso-
ciation he said, has favored traffic
courts in every city of 100000 popula-
ton or more, and a record Of con-
vietions of violations of the law on
the back of the drivers license.
+ Mr.. Bachelor, however. urged upon
the committee the need of Regulating
the pedestrians" well as the driv-
ers. They should be made to cross
the streets at certain points and not
allowed to go across helterskelter, as
they do now.
Maj. Pullman recommended the pas
sage of a bill introduced by Senator
Capper of Kansas, directing the driver
of any car which strikes another or
strikes a pedestrian to aid the person
injured and to report the collision.
The hearings will be continued to-
morrow at 10 o'clock.