The Washington herald., 1921-08-11
HHLMAN WANTS
TRAFFTCCOURT TO
CURB SPEEDSTERS
Says Police Courts Un-
able to Handle All
Such Cases.
POLICE MAKE DRIVE
Ordered to Serve Attach
ments on Flagrant
Violators.
POLICE MAKE DRIVE

Il do not believe that a Police
Court Of the District OF Columbia
can handle the enormous number
Of cases that would come before it
~ the necessary changes 10 prevent
the lawless driving OF Vehicless are
made, and therefore III am In favor
Of the creation of a traffic court TO
handle these cases" Representative
Frederick " Zihlman, Of Mary
land, declared yesterday.
"A judge given exclusive juris-
diction would soon be familiar
with persistent violators Of the law
and their disregard for human life
and property would soon cease.
according to Zihlmsn-
'ome Improvement In condidtions
have followed the new regulations
under which motor vehicle drivers
must demonstrate their ability to
drive before q card is issued, which
has recently taken the place Of
the old method of selling a drivers
license as postage stamps are sold
in the postofiice. In 1918 there
were eighty-six deaths, and in
1919 seventy-six-and this has
been reduced 10 siXty-one, notwith-
of motor vehicles licensed In the
| District have increased"
Put Fear In Hearts.
when the operator is made TO
! feel that the issuing of a drivers
card carries responsibility and an
| obligation to the public as well, and
tnst he will be held TO strict sc-
+. coUntability, and that heavy pen
: allies will he imposed for flsgrsnt
major offefnses. reckless driving
v i'll cease, and the number OF acci-
| dents will decrease.
From December 1, 1918, to No
vember so. 1890, there were t.soe
trict Of Columbia, which resulted in
4 slNty-one deaths and sos were in
jured.'
charges Of violation Of traffic laws,
rules and regulations, Of which
'rumber 1909 were convicted and
1855 forfeited collateral" zerlman
pointed out: The procedure in the
district courts OF allowing viola
tcrs to post a small fee and forfeit
their collateral and then not appear
:s largely responsible for the dis
regard OF traffic laws and reguls-
itons. and should be abolished"
Order Of Police.
Escaping the full penalty Of the
tIaw in speeding cases by the for
feiture Of a small collateral was
tended yesterday by an order Of MAI
tCessford's to al police captains, in
struCting them to serve attachments
t. all fragrant NIolators OF the
speed law.
This order. IL is understood. was
the result Of conferences attenoco
by the police court judges. Capt
oyster and Maj. Gessford. Col
lateral forfeiture will only be per
mitted in cases where the offender
has exceeded the limit by mile
or two. ..
I'VE are not looking for trouble.
Commissioner Oyster declared last
night. but we are seeking TO pre-
vent the all too frequent violations
Of the speed laws which have been
brought to our attention for some
time. The efforts Of the police
should be rewarded by penalties
which will tend to break up this
lawlessness.
Fine, for Day.
Iloyd y. Young. 25 years old
colored. of 1908 Fifteenth street
northwest. was fined $50 by Judge
Mcmahon FOR running thirty-nNe
miles per hour on sixteenth street
on Tuesday. Arrested by Policeman
=. T. Tyscr. who said that Young
did not even slow down for cross
ings.