The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-28
COnamOn-Sense Enforce
ment of Traffic LalUs

by BILL PRICE. n
DANIEL SULLIVAN became Superintendent of
Police of Washington largely because of his common
sense, about the most valuable human faculty. and
all too rare in public officials He is exhibiting this
endowment in many ways-one the determination
that traffic laws and rules Of the District shall be
enforced in sensible manner.
His policy will be that those violators of the law
who endanger lives and properties shall be made to
realize the seriousness of their oenses if the courts
will cooperate with him, as they should do. On
the other hand, trivial thoughtless violations of the
law, harmless so far danger goes, will be left
somewhat to the discretion of traffic officers to
handle. If these officers possess the hard of
their chief the enforcement of traffic laws will cease
to be obnoxious, and there will be thorough under
standing on the part Of the police force, the public
and the courts that deliberate offenders who are
menace to public welfare will be dealt with in
drastic manner. Through cooperation of these
agencies sympathetic accord with the traffic
squad-there should be reduction in the killing and
wounding of human beings, the smashing of ma
chimes and other properties.
Automobile drivers are of two cIasses-frst those
who obedient to law, cautious mindful of the
rights of Others and not willful violators second
those who deliberate speeders intentional viola
tors of any and all regulations when policeman is
not watching, caring nothing for other peoples
rights, and willing to take dare devil chances.
The streets of Washington not racing grounds
for daredevils to operate their machines in or for
irresponsible, crack Drained drivers to do as they
please
With common enforcement Of traffic laws
those offenders known to be of the first class would
be handled enieptly unless they should become per-
sstently thoughtless while those known to be of the
second wOuld TO
had to mend their ways.
Permitting policemen to exercise discretion does
not mean of course, that they to usurp the func
tons Of their superors of the court when there
doubts to the class in whic han offender be-
longs
Some weeks ago young man who has driven q
for twelve years without being arrested
neared traffic officer at signal. The signal was
set for him to $50" Seeing it, he turned his head
and started forward. The signal was shifted Just
he turned his head and the officer halted him,
lectured him, and handed him note to deliver to
the precinct, saying: Failing to obey signal. Soke
ST." In spite of his spelling accomplishments, he
had passed civil service examination.
The same officer some weeks later allowed him
self to be talked out Of making arrest by
shrewd lawyer sitting in a with driver who
was well-flled with whskey. The car was also
well-fed with booze.
Just going to show that common sense is often
too and that traffic officers should be specially
picked men, who will, naturally, make some mis-
takes
The traffic dangers of Washington in drivers
Of the second class mentoned-the speed maniacs
the hootch imbibers who allow whiskey to run the
cars; the dare DEVILS and the irresponsible, in
considerae, who seem to think that pedestrians have
absolutely rights, even at street crossings.
When the police are able to curb the deliberate
vioators, and then educate the jay walkers we will
begin to have fewer accidents with harmonious
relations between the man-on- foot and the man-in
AGAR.