The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-20
APPLY THE PENALTIES

charge of murder which was entered by the coroner against man who drove an Automobile, with several occupants, at a rapid rate into a moving freight train, re- sulting in the death of one person and more or less serious injury to several others, is based on the principle that one cannot es- z cape responsibility for a condition of ire sponsibility which he has brought on him. self. The allegation is that the man had been drinking and refused to surrender the wheel to another person in the car. An auto driver under the influence of liquor who heads his car into a. moving train or persists , in other reckless methods on the public thoroughfares is just as much public menace as the man who runs amuck and shoots up a public street. It matters not that the charge be unique in the history of automobiling in this community. The de- fendant was properly imprisoned without bond to await trial.
 Another reckless auto driver, whom traffic officers said they had difficulty in restraining from driving his car the sidewalk in a congested district, was fined one hundred dollars, sentenced to thirty days in jail and suspended from driving for twelve months. That is the kind of penalties which will not only restrain reckless drivers, but will serve as valuable object lesson upon all who are tefnpted to violate the traffic ordinances and endanger human safety. Small fines, some times remitted in part or in whole, have no effect. There are many people in this and other communities who do not hesitate to take chances on arrest and small fines for the nake of speeding, disregarding traffic regu- htions and otherwise running roughshod over the public rights. They must be re- etrained on behalf of the public safety. Only real penalties will do this. Suspension from driving for long periods, with heavy fines or Jail sentences or both in accordance with the offense, will produce results. Those who try offenders owe it to. the public to treat this dangerous situation as it deserves. There has been far too much reckless motor ing in this community; far too much de- Hberate Haunting of the traffic ordinances. It is high time it be stopped. There is an affective remedy. Let it be applied without fear or favor and it's wisdom will soon be Aem6nstrated with gratifying results
 Judge Ava k. Corbett, who presides over the municipal court of Cleveland, Ohio, de- clares that the fear of punishment is the must potent influence in decreasing traffic law violations. Application of this theory resulted in noteworthy improvement of traf'
 
 fic conditions in that city. Punishment adequate, certain and impartial" is his rem- edy, He says: "In order to keep down accidents there must be close cooperation between the courts, prosecutors and police department. The solution of the great prob lem, in last analysis, however, IS i'll the hands of the judges who pass upon the of lenses. Anybody can be judge. What the judges need is not a great wisdom, but the ruts to enforce the laws fearlessly and inn partially"
 Aside from the somewhat inelegant yer hiage employed, Judge Corbett's formula is conmendable. In three months it resulted in a fifty-seven per cent. decrease in fatal accidents, thirty-three per cent. decrease ln serious accidents, thirty-six per cent. de crease in slight accidents, and forty per cent decrease in property damages. Certainly such n record in reducing menace to the pubic safety is worth while. The fear of punish ment, Adequate, certain and impartial, Il inst as potent in Birmingham as in Cleve land or elsewhere, and it will produce just as valuable results. It is heartily recon nnended in the local situation. A few months Application of the remedy will produce marked results on behalf of the public safety and the public welfare.