Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-17
TO
GRADE FINES
OF OFFENDERS
Automobile Regulations by
Means Of Sliding
Scales.

An ordinance providing for the pay
ment of fees of 81, So and So for viola
tons of city traffic code In lieu of former
prosecution and giving the police au-
thority to haul to headquarters and hold
'in pound any automobile parked in vio-
lation of the law, the owner Of which
can not be found, has been prepared by
Assistant City Attorney William T.
Bailey, to be introduced at the council
meeting tonight. Mr.. Bailey prepared
the measure at the request of counciimen
who said they would not pass the traf-
flc codifcation ordinance until he had
done so.
President Theodore J. Bernd, of the
council said he thought the traffic codi-
fication ordinance, which changes the
regulations now in force in several impor-
tant particulars, will be called out of
committee for passage or rejection to-
night. Other measures upon which ac-
ton Is expected are Those authorizing
a bond issue for additions and better
ments at the city hospital, amending the
boxing commission ordinance so as TO
provide for five instead of seven members
Of the council serving thereon, amending
the anti-open vault law and establishing
daylight saving.
The hospital bond issue ordinance au-
ings. The council opposed this amount.
and the board of public health tenta-
lively agreed TO cut 1t to S425, 900. Coun-
cilmen Heydon W. Buchanan announced
he would not vote for this amount or any
money for new construction until an In
vestigation is made into the matter OF
moving the hospital to more cheerful
location" II is now at the edge Of a
negro residence district.
The draft Of the traffic fee ordinance
provides that the police shall serve writ
ten notice upon all yiolators. Within
forty eight hours after receiving such
notice they must present themselves and
notice at the city clerks office and pay 81
II 1t is his first ofTense So If 1t is the sec
ond and So If 1t is the third or more.
II citizen does not believe he has vio-
lated the traffic code he may either re-
fuse to pay the fee or pay II under FRO
test If he fails within forty eight hours
after receipt of notice TO report to the
clerks office it is made the duty of the
arresting officer TO file an affidavit in
city court against him in the usual way.
II the citizen pays the fee under protest
the affidavit is filed and the case goes
to trial Should the citizen be found not
guilty the clerk must refund the fee, but
If found guilty the fee Is applied upon
the fine.
In figuring whether the ofrense is the
first. second, third, etc the ordinance
provides that the city clerk shah take
into account only the ofenses in the
fiscal year dating from the day when
the ordinance becomes effective.
If an automobile is parked In a for
hidden place and the owner cannot be
found the policeman who discovers IL
must have It towed TO headquarters,
where the owner can get It by paying
the fee commensurate with the number
Of his offense. If the owner does not
want to pay the fee he Will be slated
in the regular way and he and car
bay me released on bond.
The blu would require the city clerk
to turn over fees collected to the city
controller once a month.
The traffic code ordinance was In
troduced Feb. 90,
The public safety committee had Mr..
Bailey rewrite 1t, providing for reten-
ton Of hour and Il half parking every
where in the congested district.
Councilman Buchanan said he and sew
raj other members desire an amendment
that business houses using silent police
men in front Of their places In order to
reserve parking spaces for their trucks
and wagons can reserve such space anly
between s and 8 80 o'clock In the morning
ard IL 80 and o'clock In the afternoon.
The pending amendment to the ami
open vault ordinance would extend the
time limit for compulsory connection
with sewers or septic tanks from Oct
1922 to Oct. 1. 1924.