Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-07-07
Motorists Complain On
Action Of Speed Cops
Penurious Officials Can Do A
Great Deal to Harm Auto
Travel In State

The State Highway Commission is
being inundated with complaints
from travellers due to the fact that a
few counties and some small munich
palities are enforcing the speed laws
in an obnoxious manner So serious
are these matters that the action of
certain counties and of certain locali-
ties is said to be endangering the pro
spective success of this years tour
ing season in Wisconsin.
The Highway Commission believes
that the speed laws should be enforc-
ed, but with reason and Justice.
Many arrests have been made where
the so-called speeder was departing
only mile or two per hour from the
established maximum, and where it
was in no way claimed that be was
endangering the safety either of him
self or of other vehicles and pedes-
TRANS
The speed officers should be out to
promote the public safety; not to
collect the largest possible amount of
fines. The sneaking habit of hiding
behind bushes and springing out upon
the unwary traveller is to be condemn
ed. officers enforcing the speed laws
should be in uniform, and where
there is only a reasonable deviation
from the established speed limits
(Which many tourists are not ac-
quainted With a gentlemanly warn
ing should be given, the number taken
and the violator allowed to proceed
A courteous warning of this kind will
produce the desired result of safety
and will not leave a sore spot, such
as a fine produces. Indiscriminate
fining may cost Wisconsin in lost tour
ist traffic many times the amount Of
the fines.
Communities, whose business is suf-
fering from unduly harsh enforcement
by neighboring communities, could
well erect warning signs against the
traffic cops at suitable points, so that
all travel entering the unduly restrict
ed territory will act accordingly.
The Wisconsin Highway Commits
sion does not wish it understood that
it stands for reckless or unsafe driv-
ing, or that it urges the neglect of
the speed tatutes now on the books
but these statutes can be enforced
without the obnoxious accompani-
ments which now prevail in too many
localities.
Wisconsin wants tourist business
we need it. Anything which will
discourage it or unduly hamper it is
not an advantage to the state of Wis
consin, but to the contrary, is a dis
tinct detriment. In case anyone is
unfamiliar with the statutes, the law
provides for safe speeds under all con-
ditions, not exceeding thirty miles
per hour in the open country; twenty
miles per hour in the tninly settled
sections of cities and villages; fifteen
miles per hour il the congested cen
ters, and twelve miles per hour in
passing school houses and institutions
(See Section 1636-49 of the Statutes.)
1t is hoped that those neighbor-
hoods, the business of which is adj
versely affected by obnoxious enforc-
ment of the speed laws, will take
steps to warn the traffic before it en-
ters these areas. Above all, sneaky
arbitrary, unreasonable, half-baked, or
under aged speed enforcing officials
should be checked for the good of
Wisconsin. They should above all,
be put into uniforms and made to stay
out on the open road where they will
prevent violations instead of merely
catching a few unwary violators from
distant points