The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-04
LAXITY IN TRAFFIC LAWS

"ltH NlSOTOuS complaint OI the ldAlIy with which the traffic laws of Birtming- circuit court, asked the grand jury to institute an investigation into the situa- tion when it reconvenes September 23. Judge Snyder declared that the present laxity of the police in enforcing the traffic code is leading to disregard and disr'"~-~~- of all laws. He requested < that the grand jury present a resolution to the city authorities asking for a stricter enforcement of the municipal laws.
 Judge Snyder called attention to fre- quent and often fragrant disregard of the traffic ordinances. This consists in failure to provide motor vehicles with the required lights, parking and driving on the wrong side of the street, improp- erly passing other vehicles, speeding and passing standing street cars while the gates are open and passengers are disembarking. This last is one of the most dangerous of violations.
 H There is too much violation of the traffic ordinances in Birmingham, and, as Judge Snyder says, the greater the extent to which it is carried the more the disregard of all laws. The situation is especially bad in the residential dis trict, though it is by no means blame less in the congested business section. But for the beacon lights in the down. town district accidents would be much more numerous. It is not uncommon to see auto drivers violate the law in several ways at the same time. More than once it has been observed that drivers within the city limits, and on thoroughfares, disregard the ordinances four ways at a time. They were without head or tail lights after dark, were driving on the wrong side of the street and were ex- ceeding the speed limit.
 From January 1 to September 1 of this year there were twenty-two people killed and more than two hundred and forty more or less seriously injured in Birmingham. This does not include minor hurts, of which no record was made, and which were numerous. The property damages ran into the thousands. While the ordinances were made for the public protection and the public safety, there are many violators of the law who disregard this fact, but who are the first to complain when they are victims of ac- cidents.
 Much is said of the small police force in Birmingham. While this situation may be partially responsible for the dis regard of the ordinances, it is possible to improve the condition not only by greater alertness in the matter of ar rests, but, more important still, by making the punishment fit the crime" :" Small fines, some of them remitted, are of little effect. Real punishment, and frequent long prison sentences where / violations are especially fragrant, such as driving a car while under the influ- ence of liquor, are needed to reduce this public danger. Undoubtedly Commits sioner Cloe's abuse of his powers to sus- pend or remit sentences is the single most important cause of disregard for our local laws.
 Attention was directed to the new code by Judge Snyder, which he declared was unjust. It prohibits persons under sixteen years of age from driving motor vehicles, except when accompanied by an adult, and yet provides a penalty, recoverable in a damage suit, of only one hundred dollars. Being accom- panied by an adult is of little protec- ton to victims of accidents. People who are killed or seriously injured in auto smash-ups will receive little consolation from one hundred dollars damages. That amount would not cover the cost of few days in the hospital.