Evening star., 1923-12-18
CURB ON DRUNKEN
AUTODR|vER URGED
Judge Schuldt Advocates
/ Confiscation of Cars in
Cases Where Convicted.

Judge Gus A. Schuldt of the Police
Court in an address before the Mid
Gity Citizens Association in the
Franklin School last night advocated
a law that would authorize the confis-
cation of an automobile of a person
convicted of operating it while in
toxicated. This, in addition to more
Jail sentences, might help some, he
said, in breaking up this evil.
Judge Schuldt declared the drunken
automobile driver is a menace to the
community and should be dealt with
severely. No leniency should be
shown him, he said. He asserted that
during the past year more than six
hundred cases have come to the Po
been charged with driving while un-
der the influence of liquor. There
were fifty-nine last month alone.
He said that he has become so ex-
ercised over these appalling figures
that he has originated a slogan: stop
drinking, or stop driving while drink
ing"
Many cases have occurred" Judge
Schuldt said, where only d pint or a
quart was involved. 1t seems to me
porting liquor in his stomach instead
of his car should be just as much
reason for contiscating his car. If
not more. The drunken driver is a
potential murderer and we must deal
with him properly.
Reckless Driver Scored.
The reckless driver and the speed
demon came in for their share of
condemnation and criticism. They
have no right to be on the streets and
should be treated only with the long
est possible Jail sentences. He then
added the immature driver to the au-
tomobile traffic problems of the Dis
trict.
MY observation has been" he said
that large proportion of the coll
has been wherein immature drivers
have been operating. | should say
that no. person under eighteen, and
personally l would make the age limit
higher, should operate a car. Just
think of the danger of a youth of
eighteen driving such an engine of
destruction as a five-ton truck A
youth OF this age generally has not
the mental poiSe necessary for this
hazardous task. The mind is not sta
bilized and it is we'll known that
youth will take chances that an older
person would shun.
There is no inherent right TO op-
crate an automobile. II IS simply a
=
medium Of a permit which gives US
this right. The state gives and can
take away this privilege, and can
make such rules and regulations as
the safety of the general public de-
mandS.
Il believe that it will not be long be-
fore mental tests will be made through
out the United States to gauge the
capacity of persons to operate. This
test will no doubt include the appi-
Mt itt1u
action. 1t is evidert that some of the
present-day drivers would fail to qualify
under such test.
II also believe that eventually the ap-
plicant. for a drivers permit, will be
required to present a diploma from some
recognized automobile school, or an
equivalent of a certain time spent in
the study and experience in the hand
ling Of an automobile before he can
take an examination to secure a permit
Urges Campaign of Education.
In the meantime l believe in a
campaign of education to enforce the
present regulations.
IF we had two more judges there
could be traffic judge on duty all
the time for the speedy trial OF all
violators of the traffic regulations"
Judge Schuldt's audience was
greatly impressed with his addre ss
and lost little time in passing resolu-
tions asking Congress for a law to
permit confiscation of automobiles
operated by drunken drivers and ask
ing for two more judges for the pis-
trict Police Court.
Another resolution, commencing the
Commissioners and the Governor of
Maryland for their efforts in bring
ing about automobile reciprocity, and
one favoring an increase in the
pay of members of the metropolitan
police force were passed. The asso-
citation went on record as approving
the proposal to prohibit soliciting
money in the public schools.