Evening star., 1921-11-15
STOP u MINUTES,
SPEEDERS' PENALTY
Traffic Engineer Also Would
Lock Automobiles Violating
Parking Regulations.


A novel method Of penalizing motor
lists who violate the speed law was
recommended to the Commissioners
today by Capt. r. Klotz, traffic engi-
neer of the Public Utilities Commits
sion. in a report prepared for the
guidance Of the traffic committee. re-
Gently appointed by the city heads.
Capt. Klotz's plan Is to give the
police authority to require speed vio-
lators to draw up to the curb when
they are caught and remain there for
fifteen minutes. Explaining his
unique theory, the traffic engineer
says: Z J s'~-
Theory Explained.
"The fifteen minutes delay will not
only make up for any time he might
have gained by his excess speed. but
will make him arrive at his destina-
tion late enough to think seriously
over the possibility Of allowing and
taking plenty of time in future.
"A few such delays and discomfit-
ures would be no less effective be-
cause they were carried out under the
public eye and might make the Of
fender the butt Of ridicule from his
friends and acquaintances who might
be passing; would enable the officers
to accomplish much with a very small
comparative expenditure Of time, and
would do more than anything else to
increase respect for the law and for
it's representatives, the last a very
much needed condition"
Lock violator's Machine.
Capt. Klotz tells the Commissioners
the most effective means to enforce
the parking regulations Is to have
the police place a secure lock upon all
machines that are parked improperly
or overstay the time limit.
A motorist finding his machine so
locked would be required to go to the
nearest police station. establish his
identity, put up collateral. after
which an officer would accompany him
back to the machine and unlock It.
This, Capt. Klotz believes. would be
easier to carry out than the impound-
ing plan of having vehicles towed by
the police to a pound.
Against Pedestrian Rule.
The engineer said he is opposed to
requiring pedestrians to cross streets
only at intersections unless traffic maxi
ing the right-hand turn at the inter-
section is restricted in such manner
as to make the crossing Of the pedes-
trian safe.
In nearly every case, he says, it is
safer for the pedestrian 20 cross a busy
street in tho center Of the black be-
cause there he has only to watch traf-
fic two ways, whereas at an intersec-
ton he. has three groups Of machines
to watch.
Capt. Klotz tells the Commissioners
the c.ghteen-mile speed limit is rea-
restriction to twelve miles an hour at
intersections is "inane." An attempt to
obey this restriction at every corner,
he says, would .devastate the machinery
of an automobile In short order"
The engineer told the city heads
that on the afternoons Of November
2 and his men made an actual count
Of 1881 machines parked in the area
between 5th and 18th streets, B and
NJ streets northwest.
He says that q study Of his figures
and maps has convinced him that It
would be found inadvisable to as
sumo that parking may be materially
restricted in the present official con-
gested area on the supposition that
those now parking within that area
may easily find suitable spaces d.
rectly outside thereof.
Present Regulations Inadequate.
1t has been generally conceded, he
says, that additional parking re-
strictfons would be unnecessary IL It
were possible to enforce the reRula-
tions now In effect. It also has been
definitely shown, he contends, that
the present attempt at enforcement
Of the parking rules IL Inadequate.
After making these observations hs
proposed the plan Of having the DO.
lice lock machines that violate the
parking rules. :.
He says the problem of providing
space for all-day parking would be
considerably eased by restoring CEN
ter parking on -Pennsylvania avenue
between 9Th and 18th streets. but
with different restrictions as to The
angle of parking. - -. :
The traffic. COMMITTEES appointed by
the CommissioneD VIII meet within
a few days to consider the RECON-
mendations Of Capt: Kiotx.