The Washington times., 1921-10-08
DIVERGENCE OF
OPINION As TO
TRAFF|CRULES
Officers Of Many Communities
Are unIust to Motorists
From Other States.

o..
with more than ten million auto
mobiles and trucks now using the
streets and highways Of the United
States. Il d, not at all surprising to
find q wide differences Of opinion a.
how best to eonfine and 70 regulate
such q volume Of traffic. says d. L.
Morgan. acting executive chairman.
A. A. A.. In American Motorist.
Those who have made = careful
study OF this problem are fully con-
WINGED that Il II deserving Of more
earnest consideration than has ~ yet
bsen given to Il. All are a.resd that
self" and by the same token he
should not be classed as burglar.
A thief may steal the best car made,
or q bootlsgger violate all the laws
on the statute books and get away
with Il In broad daylight. while In
altogether too many cases motorists
are either bawled out by some traffic
cop or pinched for . mere technical
violation. and In many cases when
the one driving had NO means Of
knowing before hand what the regu.
Most motorists are iaw-abidins.
loyal Americans, anxious % see all
the beauties, and wonders OF their ma
tive land. The automobile has made
this possible for thousands who never
could have enjoyed the privilege by
any other means OF transportation.
but with such q b. wilderfng variety
Of laws and regulations in effect
differing In almost every city and
Stats--there should be little wonder
% many innocent errors are made.
The average motorist Ia substan-
tiai citizen, one who has made prog
to drive. But a. rule he 10 paying
considerably more in taxes than any
other clans of citissns, and In all
fairness n entitled % ut least decent
treatment, which, unfortunately. does
not always prevail, a. can be verified
In hundreds OF instances.
No one will attempt to deny that
there are many who own and drive
cars who are reckless and wiiful viola
tors Of the traffic laws. This Is also
true Of practically all other offenses
against society. But what many mo-
florists cannot understand is why they
are 20 often singled out and prompt
iy penalized.. while frequently they
ODotTNC tunt tuOEo otElouo olICuuCIo
are permitted to continue their viola
tons right under the eyes OF those
who are ready to pinch" motorists at
every opportunity. ...
To be specific. know Of an in
stance where q town official was 30
busy laying for motorists coming from
other States-drivers who might pos
sibly not have headlight lens to COM
ply with his particular States require
ments-that he refused TO 70 and ar
rest one who had committed murder
In his own town. This same town
official has been following this prac-
tice for several years. to the annoy.
ance and at the expense OF motorists
of reputable citizens in that commun.
ity. ILL.,. y
Recently 4 party was passing that
way on very urgent mission, when
they were stopped by this same off,
cious person and told they were un-
der arrest because Of non-eomplying
headlights. Being anxious to keep
by making cash deposit Of S2s, being
assured by both the town officer and
prosecuting attorney any amount over
the cost OF the case would be refunded
and sent to the address given. That
was several months-ago. and thsy are
still waiting and wondering.
Recently, in Q city where the thirty
minute parking limit II vigorously
enforced on motorists, observed q
pushcart merchant selling neckties,
and who remained stationary on q
busy Saturday morning for more than
one hour with traffic officer on duty
less than 200 feet away,
All the average motorist seeks IN
.
consideration and treatment. The
hour II at hand when grating con.
stables and overzealous officials
should be forced to recognise that
those driving automobiles are not all
crooks. Car drivers deserve at least
that which IN granted ordinary Grim.
inals, namely. reasonable doubt, until
otherwise convicted. II II quite an
expense to maintain q car. WITHOUT
the added burden Of being sinkied
out as easy money" for those who
have too long regarded motorists ~
their particular prey. T.
We should>have more discussion on
this vital subject. Many officials are
just N anxious a. motorists for more
light on this increasingly difficult
problem. This In Just where the au-
tomobile club can render q real serv.
Ice by cooperating with those who
make the laws with rules and regular
tionsA controlling motor vehicles and
traffic conditions. as well az those
whose duty II 10 to enforce them.
Make every effort to "sit IN" on ali
Of this work. Cultivate the traffic
squad In your field. Discuss your
problems with these men and observe
how easy II II to create an improved
and far more agreeable attitude. All.
ways try~to impress upon all officials
that you are Q section OF the A. A. A.
family endeavoring to help and CO.
operate In everything that viii i'm.
prove and make safer and more pleas
ant the business and pleasure Of driv.
Ing an automobile. ~
once-o Overs.
When figuring in an automobile &C.