Evening star., 1924-11-19
$500 FINE FAVORED
FOR DRIVER FLEEING
SCENE OF ACCIDENT
Hart Believes This Step
Necessary Until Jail
Term Is Possible.
CONGRESS TO BE ASKED
FOR DRASTIC STATUTE
Law to Make Abandoning of Auto
Victim Felony Sought for
District.

UlSIT1CI.
! The District government today
J girded itself for drastic action de-
signed to eradicate from the Ma
tional Capital the traffic murder
menace that has cost an average Of q
life a week since Halloween and ap-
parently has not yet run its course
As a result. Congress proba bly, viii.
he asked TO take Il hand as soon a.
| il convenes, and in the meantime tha
local authorities took steps to go "th.
limit" of their power in furnishing th,.
driver who strikes down his victim
with his car and leaves him dying or
injured, helpless in the street
Wants $500 Penalty.
The initial move toward this end
was made today 10y Assistant Corpo-
ration Counsel Ringgold Hart, legal
[; member Of the Commissioners traffic
board, who Indicated he will recon-
mend to Maj W II. Holcombe, chair
man OF the board, that, pending help
| from Congress in making the fleeing
driver an out-and- out criminal under
/ the statutes. the penalty for running
away from the scene of an accident T..
raised sharply from $40 TO $500.
"The present situation calls for
drastic steps" Mr.. Hart announced
today. Il am of the opinion that the
| driver who fails to stop after col
| lision is a common criminal. ana
| that his act is. in fact. felony.
! But under present regulations and
laws, the most he may be fined is
! $40 with no jail sentence. | am in
. favor of urging Congress to enact a
| special law to make this offense q
fa1n iGl1 In l.T- low jcfl
term
! failing Not Possible.
! Meanwhile. I believe that the
! penalty fixed for this offense under
the police regulations should be
raised to q maximum fine OF $500.
The District cannot prosecute a yio-
! lation of its regulations with jail
sentence, hut it could impose such q
sentence if Congress would enact q
special law covering these cases
| Commissioner James F.. Oyster. in
! charge OF the police department, an
nouneed further that the Commits
| siopers will bring the situation to
( the attention of Congress at the
| earliest practicable moment after IL
convenes, presenting recommends
! tions that adequate laws be passed
| imm mediately to curb the criminal
driver. He said that Congress would
severe for various major traffic Of
i'fenses. including the act of leaving
the scene of accident without
making the identity known.
I The police department is doing its
utmost to handle the situation. in
! spite of the handicap of an INSULT
cient personnel" he stated. IN
spector Headley, chief of the traffic
bureau. is to be commended for his
/ efforts under the conditions imposed
Curb Speed Maniac.
! At the same time Mai. Daniel Sui
: livan, superintendent of police is
sued bulletin to his men, headed
! Curb the Speed Maniac" as follows:
I 'The speed maniac is constant.
/ menace to the safety OF pedestrians
and no effort should he spared in ap-
| pretending and bringing to justice
persons who hahitually evidence d
! disregard for the safety of others.
! Make the streets of Washington safe"
/ He followed this general bulletin
with detailed order to the cap
! tains of ever precinct to Work your
! motor cycle men in plain clothes
| daily. during the daytime, until
! further orders
| The order continues: You will in
| struct all members of your command
| lieutenants, and sergeants as Well
! in enforcing the traffic regulations,
/ especially such as cutting corners,
. not having proper lights number
| not properly lighted numbers OBJ
! structed by bumpers etc. In view of
! the large number of complaints being
received the major and superinten-
! dent expects every member of the
| department to be deeply interested IN
! enforcing the regulations"
Courts Are damned.
! While the municipal and police au-
| thorities We're thus doing all in their
| power to dam the wave of traffic
criminality, the courts were being
| jammed with rapid increments OF
! serious traffic cases, and We're being
! hfndered in disposing of the charges
by an incessant demand by offenders
| for jury trials.
The slowing up of the wheels of
| justice brought forcibly to the notice
of officials the need for separate
court and judge to try the fast-ac-
cumulating cases OF persons arrested
for driving while intoxicated
Out of "a cases of driving while
intoxicated, awaiting jury trials.
jury rendered a verdict of guilty in
two yesterday. Sentences will be i'm
posed by the court Saturday. The
defendants were John b. Freeman
and Vincent Marino. The fact that
lHoSt Two CNarSeS were originally
made May 90 and April 10. respec-
lively, also tends to show the long
time these cases lapse before they
reach final judgment.
Sixteen charges of driving while
| intoxicated and one charge of reck-
less driving Were continued indef-
nftely. These cases will he set for
trial at a later date. One case yes
terday, that of Conrad s. Burrichter
charged with driving while intoxi-
Gated. was nolle pressed. insufficient
evidence being the cause.
Bench Warrants Issued.
Philip c. Buckler, Clyde c. Dun
nington and Raymond Beach, all
charged with driving while intoxi-
Gated. were given continuances to
November 20. % and % respectively
Bonds were forfeited in the cases OF
George w Manley and Roger Mills,
both charged with driving while in
toxicated, and bench warrants issued
by the court.
According to court officials il is
due to the system now being used
that tends to such delay, and not.
due to any lack of efficiency or co..
opera tion on the part of the corpora
ton counsel office or individual po-
licemen.
All these cases must wait calendar