The Washington times., 1924-09-06
The Use of Dead Auto Numbers
by Criminals
By BILL PRICE.

Booteggers all other criminals Washington who own
automobiles carry upon their machines when in criminal
dead auto numbers that is numbers from machines which
have changed ownership and must thereafter carry tags
The awabidng public have little idea Of the menace
this dead number business getting be in this city and
the trouble it giving the police department in successfully
coping with criminals So these dead auto
numbers that every bootegger and every criminal carries
his supply of old auto tags that chased by
policemen suspected Of traffic other violation of law
the number may be changed at the first convenient stopping
place The auto number criminals by an
Identification of that car
The captured from which Policeman Leisnger believed
to have been shot to death just example of the daily
Of dead" numbers in this city The license tags upon the
for instance had formerly been purchased by noted
divine Of Washington He had bought another car
how the dead tags turned up machine which has bullet
holes in it. Inside the alleged murder other dead
tags ready for
There police regulation which requires that tags upon
sold exchanged shall be auto license
office for cancellation and destruction The regulation
seldom obeyed The average citizen doesn't give thought
the fact that the numbers pass into the hands of criminals who
get them with and the market them The seller
Of feel he has disposed of it his bus
ness is not to take the license tags off before turning car
over TO the new purchaser who generally insists that the
bers remain the until he has had time buy new
In the failure of the police to enforce this law and in the
Of good citizens the responsibility for the
widespread and dangerous of old by the growing
criminal element Of Washington notably the desperate boot
ieggers who shoot to kill when overhaued their machines
Another trick OF the local criminal to buy tags
the automobile license office giving fictitious names and
10 the license clerks 1t obtain
license numbers in this way
These criminal subterfuge have been practced now for
years Inc lew arrests that have been made for violation
regulations concerning license tags have yielded little punish
men IN the courtSsma fines that amounted to nothing
Inc heads OF the police department of Washington and the
District Commissioners should get together and adopt new
methods and regulations which will the chances Of either
ola or new license tags passing easily into hands of
criminals
AT one time the police department under avsement the
SaEonng policemen at the license office verify the names
ana addresses given by applicants for license tags This
Wou OF course be virtually impossible during the annual
sn or licenses sufficient number of policemen it was
CLAIMED could not be spared for the work.
something drastic has to be DONE however and done pretty
sOOn no matter how many policemen required neces
ay the situation must be put up to Congress- and with
for scter methods in the issuing of
ana permits drivers The welfare city at stake and
the time has come when law must have some
IL this Capital City Oe
thousands OF drivers permits passed out to criminals and
the most irresponsible boys men and women Anv dav Won
VIII see cars being driven this city by youths who have
sense OF responsibility in the world who lack every thouo
" care ana who do not know the meaning of the word
reckless e - 'N0 WIN
1aut Is not at present in the license office which does
tne force to investigate application carefully
!" make satisfactory tests and examinations
Anere IN the whole thing weakness which is
uCn OF the violation of traffic parking laws and for
ls Tree use OF automobiles for criminal purposes r;od
up essential If the fault with Congress- then
~ 10 tne duty OF the Commissioners to make urgent recon-
10 Congress for laws authority and tn ask
office. ee JIG Lutte III 1ne hcensel