Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-06-27
CITY ORDINANCE.
IS OBSOLETE IN.
some RESPECTS.
Right Of Way Provisions IN
Conflict With Custom and
State Law. Parking Provi-
sion to be Enforced

The adoption Of system of definite =
parking space on the main streets If the
city and the recent announcement that
Eleventh and Twelfth would be made
"one-way" streets has aroused much
comment in Brownsville relative to the
traffic ordinance of the city. which was
passed in 1915. and which is in several
respects now obsolete.
The city ordinance provides that: all
vehicles going in a noriherly or soutbcr-
IL direction shall have the right of way
ever those going in an eastcrly or west
erly direction which il in conflict with
custom and the recently enacted state
law. which provides that the vehicle on
the right shall have the right of
way. Attorneys express the opinion
tLnt in view Of the state aw
vehicles on Elizabeth or other streets
running north or south do not have
right Of way. except when such vehicles
are on the right hand side of vehicles
entering from side streets. The opinion
has been expressed that this section of
the ordinance is null and void. unless the
city supply traffic officers or automatic
signalling devices for directing the traffic.
This section Of the ordinance. they con
tend. should be amended to comply with
the stae law. as in it's present form il
is doubtful il damages could be collected
under its provisions. Watch the car
On your right was the advise Of one
attorney. land il the car coming in on
your left sms shes into you. you can
probably collect enough damages to pay
funeral expenses"
The ordinance also provides that ho
driver Of vehicle shall allow the same
to come within ten feet Of any vehicle
in front Of him when approaching or
passing over crossing which pedes
trians are crossing ar about Ia cross.
II also provides that in turning any
corner at any place in the city limits.
the speed shall not exceed u miles per
hour and no vehicle shall pass or at
tempt to pass ut any street intersection.
another vehicle going in the same direc-
tion.
Another provision of the ordinance
which is subject to numerous violations
provides that no vehicle shall stop in
any stree. except within one foot Of the
curb line. The custom Of stopping cars
in the center OF the main business sec
tion Of the city TO take on or discharge
passengers or TO hold conversations is
one Of the most customary violations.
traffic officers state. but traffic has
reached the stage where the enforce
ment Of this provision is necessary.
The effect of establishing parking
lines was plainly evident last night.
one observer stated this morning. An
cars parked on Eleventh street. where
the parking lines were painted. we're
drawn up close to the curb in regular
order and presented no obstacle 70 traf-
fic. but on Elizabeth street the conditions
were just the reverse. \ dozen cars
were 'nosed in TO the curb. sticking out
tn the center Of the street. one big ear
being especially prominent. sticking out
10 far that IL was almost impossible for
two cars to pass"
Parking lines were painted on Twelfth
street last night. and Lieutenant of Po-
lice Armstrong announces that similar
lines willSbe painted on Elizabeth street
and any violation Of that section Of the
ordinance relating to parking will result
in prosecution of the offending parties